The Origins of Responsibility (Studies in Continental Thought)

François Raffoul approaches the concept of responsibility in a manner that is distinct from its traditional interpretation as accountability of the willful subject. Exploring responsibility in the works of Nietzsche, Sartre, Levinas, Heidegger, and Derrida, Raffoul identifies decisive moments in the development of the concept, retrieves its origins, and explores new reflections on it. For Raffoul, responsibility is less about a sovereign subject establishing a sphere of power and control than about exposure to an event that does not come from us and yet calls to us. These original and thoughtful investigations of the post-metaphysical senses of responsibility chart new directions for ethics in the continental tradition.

françois Raffoul Approaches The Concept Of Responsibility In A Manner That Is Distinct From Its Traditional Interpretation As Accountability Of The Willful Subject. Exploring Responsibility In The Works Of Nietzsche, Sartre, Levinas, Heidegger, And Derrida, Raffoul Identifies Decisive Moments In The Development Of The Concept, Retrieves Its Origins, And Explores New Reflections On It. For Raffoul, Responsibility Is Less About A Sovereign Subject Establishing A Sphere Of Power And Control Than About Exposure To An Event That Does Not Come From Us And Yet Calls To Us. These Original And Thoughtful Investigations Of The Post-metaphysical Senses Of Responsibility Chart New Directions For Ethics In The Continental Tradition.

Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 List of Abbreviations......Page 12 Introduction The Origins of Responsibility......Page 18 One Aristotle: Responsibility as Voluntariness......Page 56 Two Kant: Responsibility as Spontaneity of the Subject......Page 75 Three Nietzsche’s Deconstruction of Accountability......Page 97 Four Sartre: Hyperbolic Responsibility......Page 138 Five Levinas’s Reversal of Responsibility......Page 180 Six Heidegger’s Originary Ethics......Page 237 Seven Heidegger: The Ontological Origins of Responsibility......Page 259 Eight Derrida: The Impossible Origins of Responsibility......Page 299 Conclusion The Future of Responsibility......Page 317 Notes......Page 322 Index......Page 348 Franȯis Raffoul approaches the concept of responsibility in a manner that is distinct from its traditional interpretation as accountability of the willful subject. Exploring responsibility in the works of Nietzsche, Sartre, Levinas, Heidegger, and Derrida, Raffoul identifies decisive moments in the development of the concept, retrieves its origins, and explores new reflections on it. For Raffoul, responsibility is less about a sovereign subject establishing a sphere of power and control than about exposure to an event that does not come from us and yet calls to us. These original and thoughtful investigations of the post-metaphysical senses of responsibility chart new directions for ethics in the continental tradition Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 List of Abbreviations 12 Introduction The Origins of Responsibility 18 One Aristotle: Responsibility as Voluntariness 56 Two Kant: Responsibility as Spontaneity of the Subject 75 Three Nietzsche’s Deconstruction of Accountability 97 Four Sartre: Hyperbolic Responsibility 138 Five Levinas’s Reversal of Responsibility 180 Six Heidegger’s Originary Ethics 237 Seven Heidegger: The Ontological Origins of Responsibility 259 Eight Derrida: The Impossible Origins of Responsibility 299 Conclusion The Future of Responsibility 317 Notes 322 Index 348 9780253354389 Approaches the concept of responsibility in a manner that is distinct from its traditional interpretation as accountability of the wilful subject. This book explores responsibility in the works of Nietzsche, Sartre, and, Levinas and identifies decisive moments in the development of the concept, and retrieves its origins.