SMC103Y1 Lecture Notes - Emmanuel Levinas, Cogito Ergo Sum, Prosopon
11 Apr 2013
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Emmanuel levinas (1906 95) referenced throughout the book: starting point: plato (ideas) and descartes ( cogito ergo sum how do i know anything: i think so i exist) Descartes goes too far in, you have to start with others before yourself: actual starting point: in the beginning was the human relation (relationship of face-to-face) Being fully conscious until another person faces you and confronts you creates an interruption and a summon takes away from completeness. Face-to-face: visage, gesicht, prosopon (mask), persona, face: all five senses are on the face beyond a surface, looking at another person"s face says: do not kill me (silent pled or a command) Have to examine faces as missing an essential part not for tolerance but pled for hospitality. The familiar god and the other face of god. Hidat, a refugee, opened up to the first judge (locked in structural sin taking life) and second lawyer was faced by hidat through leddy"s face (giving life)
