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by Samuel Bak
OT00443B1 New Brunswick Theological Seminary
Memorial
by Samuel Bak
Valerie and Doug
ReplyDelete"Otherwise than being" was supposed by Levinas as the essence of our relationship to the YOU--the other, the face. The face is that empirical moment of seeing the countenance of the other's face, both physically and spiritually. If we are open to this physical experience, our ego self is replaced(transformed?) with vulnerability, loving-kindness and responsibility and the self is given the opportunity to be subject to the face. In that face is brokenness, lonliness, addiction, abuse, fear, weariness; but there is abundant imagination and promise, joy and praise and the possibility of a hope and future. In the face is our responsibility to respond from our created self and in subjection, we unite with the other who is before us.
To speak of the "face" is to speak of the "other." Levinas in his ideology and philosophy felt compelled in being repsonsible for the "other," as part of his service to humankind. the "face" according to Levinas speaks. It is in this speaking that thier is discourse. The first word of the "face," according to Levinas is the sixth commandment - "Thou shall not murder." the "face is where we can observe emotions, as well as thoughts without one saying anything, yet saying much.
ReplyDeleteAs mentioned, the "face" is to speak of the "other" and their needs. knowing the "other" is not only known he is greeted, it says, I not only think of what he is for me, but also, and simutaneously, and even before, I am for him."(Difficult Freedom" by Levinas).
Through the "Face," not only do we come to take note of the "other," but we learn of our responsibilty to our fellowmen. Responsibility is yet another extension of the "face in which Levinas discusses. In his book "Ethics and Infinity," Levinas states; "I understnad responsibilty as responsibilty for the "other" thus, as repsonsiblity for what is not my deed, or for what does not even matter to me; or which precisly does matter to me, is met by me as "face." Ethics and Infinity pg. 95
Responsibilty, therefore, as it relates to the face, is intially as Levinas states, for the other, It means that I am responsible for his very responsibility. pg.96
For Levinas, "the face" referred to the "other" to those we would deem different or separate from us. The face, offers humanity to that which we would be inclined to disregard. It is difficult to engage in dehumanization in the presence of the face.
ReplyDeleteFor Levinas viewing the other face to face is where true knowledge or perception of the other is revealed. He says there is "an essential poverty in the face," a poverty though hidden by the countenance of the face, which makes it difficult to harm the other. Encountering the face of the other is seeing who the other truly is because the face "is meaning" and it speaks to you about the other. Because of the meaning which comes from the face, there is difficulty killing when facing the other. There is also a responsibility to the other that automatically comes about when you are face to face with the other.
ReplyDelete