"The Other" according to Lévinas and Blanchot

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD Candidate of French Language and Literature Department, University of Tabriz

2 Professor of French Language and Literature Department,University of Tabriz

3 Professor of French Language and Literature Department, University of Tabriz

Abstract

After the Second World War, the concept of '' the Other '' became the essential question in the philosophical domain. This concept plays an important role in interpersonal relationships and in society. In this article, we will treat this concept from the thoughts of Emmanuel Levinas and those of Maurice Blanchot in order to distinguish divergent points and possibly to obtain common points. We will see how Blanchot keep the distance from the metaphysical domain in the levinasian sense, while the definition of the other in Levinas' vocabulary is formed in the field of transcendence. The way of this transcendence is realized from the face of the other person, but according to Blanchot, it is the language that could help me establish a bridge between the other person and me.
This research wishes, on the one hand, to present certain philosophical conception of Levinas whose philosophy of transcendence is presented as the ethical responsibility towards the Other, on the other hand, to show how Blanchot, influenced by his experiences of the World War II, takes an almost pessimistic position towards the Other. In fact, he sees the other as an absolute stranger, but he accepts the role of responsibility towards the other. until the presence of me does not threaten him physically and mentally.

Keywords

References

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