Toward The Outside: Concepts And Themes In Emmanuel Levinas [Paperback]

Michael B. Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 30, 2005 | ISBN-10: 0820703699 | ISBN-13: 978-0820703695

In this accessible and carefully crafted work, Michael B. Smith provides readers a systematic exposition of the essential concepts and themes that circulate throughout the thought of Emmanuel Levinas, a major voice in twentieth century thought. Unlike many recent studies that have pur-ported to examine the scope of Levinas's thinking, "Toward the Outside" is distinguished by its attention to texts from both of Levinas's two main genres: the philosophical and the confessional. Organised in three parts, the first examines key pairs of concepts -- totality/infinity, same/other, saying/said, among others. In Part 2, Smith more explicitly identifies themes that are essential to our better understand-ing of Levinas -- Judaism and the Holocaust, temporality, Levinas's treatments of Husserl and Heidegger, Derrida's reading of Levinas, and others. Finally, in Part 3, his commentary, based on close readings of selected Levinas texts, meticulously follows and highlights the development of Levinas's thought.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Michael B Smith

Product Details

• Paperback: 282 pages
• Publisher: Duquesne Univ Pr (July 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0820703699
• ISBN-13: 978-0820703695
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,772,754 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I grew up in Freeport, Long Island and then in Brookfield Center, CN. Educated in British West Indies (Barbados and Jamaica), and then in France (Paris). Taught English in Germany, then returned to the US (mid-Sixties) and taught French. Received Doctorate from University of California, San Diego, in French and Philosophical Studies. I have translated works by French historiographer Michel de Certeau, and French philosophers Maurice Merleau-Ponty and Emmanuel Levinas. My first book, "Toward the Outside: Themes and Concepts in Emmanuel Levinas" was published by Duquesne University Press in 2005. Retired from teaching French Literature and Philosophy at Berry College in Rome, GA, I moved to Riverdale with my wife Helen in 2006, where I continue to translate philosophical works from French to English for American University Presses such as Yale, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern and Fordham.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A solid introduction, February 28, 2006

By 

Sheldon Hanlon (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Toward The Outside: Concepts And Themes In Emmanuel Levinas (Paperback)

Michael B. Smith's book is among the best introductions to Levinas' thought available. This book does an extraordinary job explaining the central concepts of Levinas' philosophy in clear language. The book has an easy to follow structure, and can function as a book and also as a reference for those wanting a quick and dirty definition of Levinas' key terms. The most impressive feature of this book is its breadth, for it takes into account Levinas' phenomenological and Jewish influences, and also shows an excellent understanding of the development of Levinas' thought.

Those who find this book helpful should also look at Jeffrey Dudiak's _The Intrigue of Ethics_ and Adriaan Peperzak's _Toward the Other_.