The Gift of the Other: Levinas And the Politics of Reproduction (Suny Series in Gender Theory)

Winner of the 2007 Symposium Book Award presented by Symposium: Canadian Journal of Continental PhilosophyThe Gift of the Other brings together a philosophical analysis of time, embodiment, and ethical responsibility with a feminist critique of the way women's reproductive capacity has been theorized and represented in Western culture. Author Lisa Guenther develops the ethical and temporal implications of understanding birth as the gift of the Other, a gift which makes existence possible, and already orients this existence toward a radical responsibility for Others. Through an engagement with the work of Levinas, Beauvoir, Arendt, Irigaray, and Kristeva, the author outlines an ethics of maternity based on the givenness of existence and a feminist politics of motherhood which critiques the exploitation of maternal generosity. THE GIFT OF THE OTHER......Page 2 Contents......Page 6 Acknowledgments......Page 8 INTRODUCTION: The Gift of the Other......Page 12 A FEMINIST APPROACH TO LEVINAS......Page 16 A LEVINASIAN APPROACH TO FEMINISM......Page 19 BIRTH, TIME, ETHICS......Page 21 1. The “Facts” of Life:Beauvoir’s Account of Reproduction......Page 26 TAKE 1: B IRTH AS A PROJECT......Page 30 TAKE 2: B IRTH AS AN AMBIGUOUS SITUATION......Page 35 2. The Body Politic:Arendt on Time, Natality, and Reproduction......Page 40 V ITA ACTIVA: LABOR, WORK, ACTION......Page 43 THE TEMPORALITY OF ACTION:PROMISE AND FORGIVENESS......Page 47 THINKING THROUGH NATALITY......Page 52 REPRODUCING NATALITY:CAVARERO’S READING OF ARENDT......Page 55 3. Welcome the Stranger:Birth as the Gift of the Feminine Other......Page 60 DERRIDA AND THE G IF T OF THE IMPOSSIBLE......Page 61 CIXOUS AND THE GIFT OF THE FEMININE......Page 64 LEVINAS AND THE GIFT OF HOSPITALITY......Page 68 I AM WELCOMED: FROM ETHOS TO OIKOS......Page 69 YOU ARE WELCOME: FROM OIKOS TO ETHOS......Page 75 4. Fathers and Daughters: Levinas, Irigaray,and the Transformation of Paternity......Page 86 PATERNITY AS INFINITE DISCONTINUITY......Page 88 OTHERWISE THAN PATERNITY:IRIGARAY READING LEVINAS......Page 95 FROM PATERNITY TO THE MATERNAL BODY:ISAIAH 49......Page 100 5. Ethics and the Maternal Body: Levinas and Kristeva Between the Generations......Page 106 TIME AND THE MATERNAL BODY......Page 108 ETHICS AND HERETHICS......Page 119 MOSES AND HIS MOTHERS: NUMBERS 11:12......Page 140 6.Maternal Ethics, Feminist Politics:The Question of Reproductive Choice......Page 152 DEFENDING THE IMAGINARY DOMAIN:DRUCILLA CORNELL......Page 154 LEVINAS BETWEEN ETHICS AND POLITICS......Page 158 ETHICS, POLITICS, AND THE PROSPECT OF “UNBORN MOTHERS”......Page 166 ALTERED MATERNITIES......Page 172 Notes......Page 176 Bibliography......Page 190 B......Page 198 H......Page 199 M......Page 200 Z......Page 201 State University of New York Press THE GIFT OF THE OTHER 2 Contents 6 Acknowledgments 8 INTRODUCTION: The Gift of the Other 12 A FEMINIST APPROACH TO LEVINAS 16 A LEVINASIAN APPROACH TO FEMINISM 19 BIRTH, TIME, ETHICS 21 1. The “Facts” of Life:Beauvoir’s Account of Reproduction 26 TAKE 1: B IRTH AS A PROJECT 30 TAKE 2: B IRTH AS AN AMBIGUOUS SITUATION 35 2. The Body Politic:Arendt on Time, Natality, and Reproduction 40 V ITA ACTIVA: LABOR, WORK, ACTION 43 THE TEMPORALITY OF ACTION:PROMISE AND FORGIVENESS 47 THINKING THROUGH NATALITY 52 REPRODUCING NATALITY:CAVARERO’S READING OF ARENDT 55 3. Welcome the Stranger:Birth as the Gift of the Feminine Other 60 DERRIDA AND THE G IF T OF THE IMPOSSIBLE 61 CIXOUS AND THE GIFT OF THE FEMININE 64 LEVINAS AND THE GIFT OF HOSPITALITY 68 I AM WELCOMED: FROM ETHOS TO OIKOS 69 YOU ARE WELCOME: FROM OIKOS TO ETHOS 75 4. Fathers and Daughters: Levinas, Irigaray,and the Transformation of Paternity 86 PATERNITY AS INFINITE DISCONTINUITY 88 OTHERWISE THAN PATERNITY:IRIGARAY READING LEVINAS 95 FROM PATERNITY TO THE MATERNAL BODY:ISAIAH 49 100 5. Ethics and the Maternal Body: Levinas and Kristeva Between the Generations 106 TIME AND THE MATERNAL BODY 108 ETHICS AND HERETHICS 119 MOSES AND HIS MOTHERS: NUMBERS 11:12 140 6.Maternal Ethics, Feminist Politics:The Question of Reproductive Choice 152 DEFENDING THE IMAGINARY DOMAIN:DRUCILLA CORNELL 154 LEVINAS BETWEEN ETHICS AND POLITICS 158 ETHICS, POLITICS, AND THE PROSPECT OF “UNBORN MOTHERS” 166 ALTERED MATERNITIES 172 Notes 176 Bibliography 190 Index 198 A 198 B 198 C 199 D 199 E 199 F 199 G 199 H 199 I 200 J 200 K 200 L 200 M 200 N 201 O 201 P 201 R 201 S 201 T 201 U 201 V 201 W 201 Z 201 ISBN-13:,9780791468470 The Gift Of The Other Brings Together A Philosophical Analysis Of Time, Embodiment, And Ethical Responsibility With A Feminist Critique Of The Way Women's Reproductive Capacity Has Been Theorized And Represented In Western Culture. Author Lisa Guenther Develops The Ethical And Temporal Implications Of Understanding Birth As The Gift Of The Other, A Gift Which Makes Existence Possible, And Already Orients This Existence Toward A Radical Responsibility For Others. Through An Engagement With The Work Of Levinas, Beauvoir, Arendt, Irigaray, And Kristeva, The Author Outlines An Ethics Of Maternity Based On The Givenness Of Existence And A Feminist Politics Of Motherhood Which Critiques The Exploitation Of Maternal Generosity.--jacket. The Gift Of The Other -- The Facts Of Life : Beauvoir's Account Of Reproduction -- The Body Politic : Arendt On Time, Natality, And Reproduction -- Welcome The Stranger : Birth As The Gift Of The Feminine Other -- Fathers And Daughters : Levinas, Irigaray, And The Transformation Of Paternity -- Ethics And The Maternal Body : Levinas And Kristeva Between The Generations -- Maternal Ethics, Feminist Politics : The Question Of Reproductive Choice. Lisa Guenther. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 179-185) And Index.