Emmanuel Levinas and the Philosophy of “Other” by Mostafa Younesie
Speaker: Mostafa Younesie
The concept of self and what is other-than-self, or the other within and outside human beings as individuals and groups, has a long history in philosophy, ethics, politics, psychology, history, anthropology, and related fields. However, some historical, local, regional, or global events and tragedies bring this issue into focus. One thinker who has specific insights on this from a philosophical perspective is the prolific French philosopher E. Levinas, whose books have been translated into many languages. In his view, the key issue in European philosophy is the dominance of ontology over ethics, which has led to the neglect of the “other” as an ethical concern. This concern exists in every culture, whether in implicit or explicit forms. The question then becomes: how can we ethically engage with this complexity? Presented by Mostafa Younesie, Philadelphia Ethical Society member and independent researcher in classical Greek philosophy of ethics and politics with a focus on the classical Greek language. The Philadelphia Ethical Society is a humanist community dedicated to honoring the worth and dignity of every human being, cultivating character, nurturing ethical relationships and caring networks, building community capacity, and social justice.
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