Levinasian Ethical Project and Its Relevance to the Contemporary Society

Renowned French-Jewish philosopher Immanuel Levinas posits a novel approach to philosophy. Levinas argues that the traditional western philosophy, because of its over emphasis on reason, is far removed from the realities of day-to-day life. A philosophy which fails to address the pressing challenges of the time and that which does not impel one to reach out to one’s neighbour is practically futile. Drawing inspiration from his Jewish roots, Levinas proposes ethics as the first philosophy. His bitter experiences as a Jew in the context of the Second World War served as the harbinger for his ethical project. In doing so, he introduces certain terms which are apparently familiar to us, but are laden with meanings and symbolism. This article tries to argue that the Levinasian ethical project as it is proposed in his key writings is an antidote to the growing sense of alienation among different sections of the society today. Levinasian ethics prompts one to reach out to one’s needy neighbour