#x98;The#x9C; problem of political foundations in Carl Schmitt and Emmanuel Levinas

In this book, Gavin Rae analyses the foundations of political life by undertaking a critical comparative analysis of the political theologies of Carl Schmitt and Emmanuel Levinas. In so doing, Rae contributes to key debates in contemporary political philosophy, specifically those relating to the nature of, and the relationship between, the theological, the political, and the ethical, as well as those questioning the existence of ahistoric metaphysical, ontological, and epistemological foundations. While the theological is often associated with belief in a fixed foundation such as God or the truth of a religion, Rae identifies another sense rooted in epistemology. On this understanding, the ontological limitations of human cognition mean that, ultimately, human truth is based in faith and so can never be certain. The argument developed suggests that Levinas’ conception of the political is grounded in theology in the sense of religion, particularly the revelations of Judaism. For this reason, Levinas claims that the political decision is based on how to implement a prior religiously-inspired norm: justice. Schmitt, in contrast, develops a conception of the political rooted in epistemic faith to claim that the political decision is normless. While sympathetic to Schmitt’s conception of theology and its relationship to the political, Rae concludes by arguing that the emphasis Levinas places on responsibility is crucial to understanding the implications of this. The continuing relevance of Schmitt’s and Levinas’ political theologies is that they teach us that, while the political decision is ultimately normless, we bear an infinite responsibility for the consequences of this normless decision. Machine Generated Contents Note: 1. Introduction -- The Return Of The Theological -- Carl Schmitt And Emmanuel Levinas -- The Argument Developed -- Structure Of The Book -- 2. The Theology Of Carl Schmitt's Political Theology -- The Historical Turn From Theology -- The Turn Back To Theology: Political Theology As Religion? -- The Complexio Oppositorum -- 3. The Political Aspect Of Carl Schmitt's Political Theology -- The History Of Depoliticization -- The Concept Of The Political -- The Intensity Of The Political -- Difference And The Political -- The Other And The Political -- 4. Schmitt, Violence, And The Political -- War And The Political -- Classical, Real, And Absolute Enmity -- The Political And Real Enmity -- 5. Schmitt, Sovereignty, And The Political Decision -- Order From Chaos -- The Constituting Power -- Homogeneity And The Political Decision -- The Theology Of The Sovereign Decision -- The Faith Of The Norm -- 6. Levinas And The Ethical Foundations Of The Political -- Ontology, Violence, And The Political -- Ontology And Egoism -- Ontology And Epistemology -- Ontology And Ethics -- Overcoming Egoism: Levinas's Ethical Project -- 7. Levinas And The Face Of The Ethical -- The Ego And The Other -- The Phenomenon Of The Face -- The Responsibility Of The Hostage -- Derrida's Critique -- Responding To Derrida -- 8. Levinas And The Return Of The Political -- The Third -- Justice And The State -- Two Sources Of Law -- 9. Prophetic Politics: Levinas And Political Theology -- Justice And The Ethical State -- The Structure Of The Ethical State -- The Redemption Of Prophetic Politics -- Judaism And Levinas -- The Notion And State Of Israel. Gavin Rae. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 255-261) And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-xx Introduction....Pages 1-26 The Theology of Carl Schmitt’s Political Theology....Pages 27-58 The Political Aspect of Carl Schmitt’s Political Theology....Pages 59-89 Schmitt, Violence, and the Political....Pages 91-110 Schmitt, Sovereignty, and the Political Decision....Pages 111-137 Levinas and the Ethical Foundations of the Political....Pages 139-169 Levinas and the Face of the Ethical....Pages 171-200 Levinas and the Return of the Political....Pages 201-225 Prophetic Politics: Levinas and Political Theology....Pages 227-253 Back Matter....Pages 255-270