Emmanuel Lévinas and the Escape from Barbarism

In the years 1934-35, Emmanuel Lévinas linked the political and intellectual rise of Hitler and Heidegger to an “arrogant barbarism established in the heart of Europe.” The most needful philosophy was a philosophy capable of thinking in level terms with barbarism. For the young Lévinas, this was conceived as a philosophy of escape. This talk will explore the theme of escape as a confrontation with barbarism leading to Lévinas’s mature ethics of the face.

When 2:00 pm to 3:15 pm on Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Contact Name Theresa Cooney
Contact Email ewcjs@bu.edu
Contact Organization Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies
Fees Free
Speakers Emmanuel Lévinas