Kierkegaard and Levinas: Ethics, Politics, and Religion

by J. Aaron Simmons (Editor), David Wood (Editor)

Overview

Recent discussions in the philosophy of religion, ethics, and personal
political philosophy have been deeply marked by the influence of two philosophers
who are often thought to be in opposition to each other, Søren Kierkegaard and
Emmanuel Levinas. Devoted expressly to the relationship between Levinas and
Kierkegaard, this volume sets forth a more rigorous comparison and sustained
engagement between them. Established and newer scholars representing varied
philosophical traditions bring these two thinkers into dialogue in 12 sparkling
essays. They consider similarities and differences in how each elaborated a unique
philosophy of religion, and they present themes such as time, obligation, love,
politics, God, transcendence, and subjectivity. This conversation between neighbors
is certain to inspire further inquiry and ignite philosophical debate.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780253003591
Publisher:	Indiana University Press
Publication date:	10/29/2008
Series:	Indiana Series in the Philosophy of Religion
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	288
File size:	709 KB

About the Author

J. Aaron Simmons is Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Hendrix
College.

David Wood is Centennial Professor of Philosophy at
Vanderbilt University and Honorary Professor of Philosophy at the University of
Warwick. He is author of many books, including Time After Time (IUP,
2007).

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
List of
Abbreviations

Introduction: Good Fences May Not Make Good
Neighbors After All / J. Aaron Simmons and David Wood

Part 1.
Levinas on Kierkegaard
1. The Many Faces of Levinas as a Reader of
Kierkegaard / Merold Westphal
2. Existential Appropriations: The Influence
of Jean Wahl on Levinas's Reading of Kierkegaard / J. Aaron
Simmons

Part 2. On Love and Transcendence
3. Who or What
or Whot? / John Llewelyn
4. Kierkegaard and Levinas on Four Elements of
the Biblical Love Commandment / M. Jamie Ferreira
5. The Greatest
Commandment? Religion and/or Ethics in Kierkegaard and Levinas / Jeffrey
Dudiak

Part 3. Time, Alterity, and Eschatology
6.
Hearing, Patiently: Time and Salvation in Kierkegaard and Levinas / David Kangas and
Martin Kavka
7. Kierkegaard, Levinas, and "Absolute Alterity" / Michael
Weston
8. What Kierkegaardian Faith Adds to Alterity Ethics: How Levinas
and Derrida Miss the Eschatological Dimension / John J.
Davenport

Part 4. Ethico-Political Possibilities
9. The
Challenge of Justice: The Ethics of "Upbuilding" / Edith Wyschogrod
10.
Levinas and Kierkegaard: Ethics and Politics / Zeynep Direk
11. Works of
Justice, Works of Love: Kierkegaard, Levinas, and an Ethics Beyond Difference /
Stephen Minister
12. "More Than All the Others": Meditation on
Responsibility / Martin Beck Matu<s,HAC>tík

List of
Contributors
Index

What People are Saying About This

Purdue University - Martin Beck Matustik

A book of this nature is long overdue.

Fordham University - Merold Westphal

Presents a variety of perspectives on the relation of Levinas and Kierkegaard and represents a debate on how to read these two together and against each other.

Editorial Reviews

"Presents a variety of perspectives on the relation of Levinas and Kierkegaard and represents a debate on how to read these two together and against each other."—Merold Westphal, Fordham University

"A book of this nature is long overdue."—Martin Beck Matustik, Purdue University

From the Publisher

"A book of this nature is long overdue." —Martin Beck Matustik, Purdue University

Martin Beck Matustik

"Presents a variety of perspectives on the relation of Levinas and Kierkegaard and represents a debate on how to read these two together and against each other." —Merold Westphal, Fordham University

Merold Westphal