Radical Passivity: Rethinking Ethical Agency in Levinas (Library of Ethics and Applied Philosophy (20))

The notion of radical passivity undoubtedly constitutes the burning question in the thought of French philosopher, Emmanuel Levinas. Committed to the claim that egoism and freedom cannot give birth to generosity, Levinas presents radical passivity as a necessary condition for ethical action understood as taking responsibility for the other. In approaching another, Levinas argues, ‘something’ has overflowed my freely taken decisions, has slipped into me unbeknownst to me (CPP, 145). This something, this ‘other-within-the-self’ makes the self vulnerable to the call of the other and therefore capable of taking the other’s place, of substitution and sacrifice. Generosity and human fellowship, therefore, does not follow from a free rational consciousness capable of sympathy and compassion, but from a passivity ‘inflicted’ by an alterity at the heart of subjectivity. Levinas is not hereby saying that one should sacrifice oneself for others. He merely wants to account for its possibility. This multiperspectical volume brings together a host of renowned Levinas scholars in an attempt to critically reflect upon the ethical significance of radical passivity. Contributions cover the entire scope of this notion’s evolution within Levinas’s thought from its phenomenological roots to its culmination in what is often referred to as his confessional writings, the Talmudic Readings. In addition, this volume offers us a much needed critical revaluation of key issues in Levinas’s thought which are, more often than not, uncritically assimilated or taken as matter of fact. This Multiperspectical Volume Brings Together A Host Of Renowned Levinas Scholars In An Attempt To Critically Reflect Upon The Ethical Significance Of Radical Passivity. Contributions Cover The Entire Scope Of This Notion's Evolution Within Levinas's Thought From Its Phenomenological Roots To Its Culmination In What Is Often Referred To As His Confessional Writings, The Talmudic Readings. In Addition, This Volume Offers Us A Much Needed Critical Revaluation Of Key Issues In Levinas's Thought Which Are, More Often Than Not, Uncritically Assimilated Or Taken As Matter Of Fact.--jacket. Editor's Introduction : Passivity As Necessary Condition For Ethical Agency? -- Pt. I, Introducing Radical Passivity. Radical Passivity : Ethical Problem Or Solution? / Benda Hofmeyr ; Radical Passivity In Levinas And Merleau-ponty (lectures Of 1954) / Bettina Bergo -- Pt. Ii, Radical Passivity And The Self. Sincerely Yours : Towards A Phenomenology Of Me / Adriaan Peperzak ; Sincerely Me : Enjoyment And The Truth Of Hedonism / Joachim Duyndam -- Pt. Iii, Radical Passivity As Basis Of Effective Ethical Action? The Fundamental Ethical Experience / Alphonso Lingis ; Radical Passivity As The (only) Basis For Effective Ethical Action : Reading The 'passage To The Third' In Otherwise Than Being / Peter Zeillinger -- Pt. Iv, Radical Passivity And Levinas's Talmudic Readings. Listening To The Language Of The Other / Anya Topolski ; Ab-originality : Radical Passivity Through Talmudic Reading / Seán Hand ; L'être Entre Les Lettres : Creation And Passivity In And God Created Woman / Luc Anckaert. Edited By Benda Hofmeyr. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Levinass ethical metaphysics is essentially a meditation on what makes ethical agency possible that which enables us to act in the interest of another, to put the well-being of another before our own. This line of questioning found its inception in and drew its inspiration from the mass atrocities that occurred during the Second World War. The Holocaust , like the Cambodian genocide, or those in Rwanda and Srebrenica, exemplifies what have come to be known as the never again situations. After these events, we looked back each time, with varying degrees of incomprehension, horror, anger and shame, asking ourselves how we could possibly have let it all happen again. And yet, atrocity crimes are still rampant. After Rwanda (1994) and Bosnia-Herzegovina (19921995), came Kosovo (1999) and Darfur (2003). In our present-day world , hate crimes motivated by racial, sexual, or other prejudice, and mass hate such as genocide and terror, are on the rise (think, for example, of Burma, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and North Korea). A critical revaluation of the conditions of possibility of ethical agency is therefore more necessary than ever. This volume is committed to the possibility of never again. It is dedicated to all the victims living and dead of what Levinas calls the sober, Cain-like coldness at the root of all crime against humanity , as much as every singular crime against another human being .