Levinas: An Introduction [Paperback]

Colin Davis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 28, 1997

In recent years there has been a resurgence of interest in the work of Emmanuel Levinas, widely recognized as one of the most important yet difficult philosophers of the 20th century. In this much-needed introduction, Davis unpacks the concepts at the centre of Levinas's thought - alterity, the Other, the Face, infinity - concepts which have previously presented readers with major problems of interpretation. Davis traces the development of Levinas's thought over six decades, describing the context in which he worked, and the impact of his writings. He argues that Levinas's work remains tied to the ontological tradition with which he wants to break, and demonstrates how his later writing tries to overcome this dependency by its increasingly disruptive, sometimes opaque, textual practice. He discusses Levinas's theological writings and his relationship to Judaism, as well as the reception of his work by contemporary thinkers, arguing that the influence of his work has led to a growing interest in ethical issues among poststructuralist and postmodernist thinkers in recent years. Comprehensive and clearly written, this book will be essential reading for students and researchers in continental philosophy, French studies, literary theory and theology.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Davis's book has many merits. The style is spare, modest and clear. The scholarship is extremely accurate throughout, a task which is obviously helped by Davis's perfect knowledge of French, which enables him to comprehend and convey the singular quality of Levinas's prose. Davis's attention to the detail of Levinas's language is admirable and this is the first book I have read on Levinas in English that adequately explores the rhetorical dimension of his work. Davis manages to provide the reader with a systematic overview of Levinas's philosophical work ... he has a fine sense of what is philosophically at stake in Levinas's mature thought, and achieves this task of elucidation without passing over the textual complexities and even contradictions of Levinas's writing." The Times Literary Supplement "Excellent introduction." Le'ela "Easily accessible to the undergraduate audience." Radical Philosophy --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Review

"Davis's book has many merits. The style is spare, modest and clear. The scholarship is extremely accurate throughout, a task which is obviously helped by Davis's perfect knowledge of French, which enables him to comprehend and convey the singular quality of Levinas's prose. Davis's attention to the detail of Levinas's language is admirable and this is the first book I have read on Levinas in English that adequately explores the rhetorical dimension of his work.

Davis manages to provide the reader with a systematic overview of Levinas's philosophical work ... he has a fine sense of what is philosophically at stake in Levinas's mature thought, and achieves this task of elucidation without passing over the textual complexities and even contradictions of Levinas's writing." The Times Literary Supplement

"Excellent introduction." Le'ela

"Easily accessible to the undergraduate audience." Radical Philosophy --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: University of Notre Dame Press; 1 edition (January 28, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0268013144
• ISBN-13: 978-0268013141
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #119,689 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Levinas Unveiled, May 22, 2000

By 

Eric Mullis (Charlotte, N.C.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Levinas: An Introduction (Paperback)

Davis' book takes the reader through Levinas' major works clarifying some of the ideas that have puzzled readers for some time. His discussions on "Totality and Infinity" include expositions of the central ideas and, more importantly, thoughts regarding Levinas' writing style. Davis describes the "Levinas effect" which is often the product of reading his difficult prose. This effect is the tendency of interpreters to use Levinas in order to forward their own ideas. Davis argues that this effect shows us how Levinas has the ability to take the reader beyond Being since the text is constantly questioning and often frustrating the reader. This ability to question the reader is a reflection of the relationship that exists between the "Same" and the "Other," the relationship with which Levinas spent his life writing about. Most importantly, Davis' book takes the reader through other works by showing their relationship to "Totality and Infinity," Levinas' magnum opus. In summary, an essential aid in understanding the thinker because of its chronological discussions of Levinas' major works, from essays on Heidegger and Husserl to the writings on Rabbinic Judaism.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific Introduction, June 10, 2004

By 

Lesley Dart "thelester" (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Levinas: An Introduction (Paperback)

I am very pleased with this book. Davis begins by orienting Lev's work within Husserl's phenomenology and distinguishes Lev from Heidegger. So many thinkers are difficult to comprehend because lousy intro books don't place them in context. Davis elegantly relates the role of ethics in distinction to Heidegger's concerns. He goes deeper by discussing the influence of Descartes and Kant leading to Lev's postmodern ethic. Davis writing is direct, yet still conveys passion for Lev's accomplishments. Finally, he consistently iterates that he is in some ways doing a disservice to Lev by paraphasing his work into a meager introduction. It may have disserved Lev, but it sure helped me and many others. Great book I highly recommend.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars to repeat, June 28, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Levinas: An Introduction (Paperback)

just wanted to confirm the sense described in the previous review (and add an additional star) -- this is a very helpful and interesting introduction to Levinas (which is, i think, pretty unusual for intros to french thinkers). it's short and easy to read while also pointing to the complexity in both the thought and reception of Levinas. also, even if you've already read some Levinas, this book can still help orient you within his work by discussing some of the conceptual stakes with which he is engaged.