First published in English by Duquesne in 1969, this has become one of the classics of modern philosophy.
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"It is not often that one finds a work that is both radically original and carefully thought through. This book is both. It is striking out along new lines to formulate a general position which is opposed to Husserl's transcendental idealism as well as Heidegger's hermeneutic philosophy of being. In this way it shows the inexhaustible richness of our lived experience and the fruitfulness of reflecting on its form and patterns. The work deserves to be widely read..." -- John Wild.
Language Notes
Text: English, French (translation)
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
52 of 55 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Beyond Being,
By
This review is from: Totality and Infinity: An Essay on Exteriority (Philosophical Series) (Paperback)
A very difficult and interesting work. Levinas' prose is complex and often seemingly contradictory. Why is this so? Levinas struggles with a language that very often glosses over the radical alterity of the other. Traditionally, western philosophy has relegated all beings to Being, the stuff from which all things, or beings, spring. Levinas wants to suggest that in doing so, western philosophy has ignored the complex and often difficult relationships that exist between individuals. Specifically, Levinas addresses the ontology of Martin Heidegger which reduces the other's importance by giving priority to Being, or Totality. The other, however, points beyond Being and towards infinity. The idea of the infinite is drawn from Descartes' third meditation in which he describes this fundamental idea that we all have. Levinas carries on this line of thought by emphasizing the other that shatters the supposed totality of Being and consequently creates an necessarily ethical relationship. Wonderfully, Levinas' work acts as an other that continually challenges the reader as do the relationships in everyday life.
32 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An absolutely necessary read,
By A Customer
This review is from: Totality and Infinity: An Essay on Exteriority (Philosophical Series) (Paperback)
This books demands the attention of us all, at every moment, and is a quiet masterpiece in recent continental thought. A work which Derrida has commented on, and built on so much in his earlier and later (affirmative) deconstrucion. This book is not simply a treatise on ethics, but one on metaphysics, logic, philosophy of religion, philosophy of mind, aesthetics, epistemology and indeed every thinkable area of ontological, onto-theological work that one can imagine. A treatise that makes us dramtically rethink everyone of these areas and so much more. Levinas will, in time, no doubt become regarded as one of the greats in the history of philosophy.
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
difficult - so important,
This review is from: Totality and Infinity: An Essay on Exteriority (Philosophical Series) (Paperback)
Yeah, this is hard to read. Yes, it is worth it. Levinas stands tall in a tradition that embraces the flux and rejects the totalizing tendencies of modernity. Totality and Infinity was a powerful influence on Derrida, can be seen as a parrallel to Heidegger's Essay Concerning the Question of Technology, and certainly repesents a powerful attempt at post-metaphysical ethics.
Levinas points out the egology, the self and family centered closedness that does violence on many scales. In a time when there seems to be unconditional heralding of freedom, Levinas points out the violence of freedom and encourages responsibility. Regardless of how effective one finds his arguments, I think the attitude and way of being Levinas is describing is one that would make life much fuller and less driven by inertia and ignorence. Infinitely important (pun), highly recommended.
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