Emmanuel Levinas on Desire and Traces of the Infinite ♾️

In this video lecture, Dr. Donald Wallenfang examines the place of desire in relation to the Infinite within the work of Emmanuel Levinas.
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#phenomenology #philosophy #contemplation #questions #religion #hermeneutics #ethics

[@wesmac5]

Hey Dr Wallenfang. As a psychologist, when I’m in a face to face encounter with the other in front of me(the patient), it seems to me the way I respond to the other(I.e with a posture of kenosis, openness to their otherness etc) that has both an internal and external response is important? I think you mentioned that a contemplative stance is not what is at play for Levinas, but how then does the way in which we engage with the other impact the ethical relationship? Even though I’m being held hostage, welcoming them as their hostage and resisting in reducing them to the same(even though he says we can’t extinguish the altering of the other) but merely resisting must make a difference? Thanks again for your videos they’ve been really helpful.

[@TheMendicantPhilosopher]

Thank you for your comment, Wes. Yes, I think that there is an intentionality of resistance in Levinasian philosophy: resistance to reductionism, resistance to reducing the other to more of the same, resistance to self-interested lustful desire. Levinas suggests a renunciation of interpreting the other according to the faceless and non-linguistic modalities of manifestation. For the self, a fiat is required to let the other persist in her otherness while rejecting the temptation to assimilate the other as just another facet of the self. Overall, from a Christian perspective, I think that divine grace is necessary to empower the will to this unnatural and heroic degree of renunciation. Perhaps Pelagius (works) without Augustine (grace) is pretentious self-sufficiency, while Augustine (grace) without Pelagius (works) is irresponsible entitlement. The self needs to choose to act well, but the resources for acting well abide outside of the self, all the way to divinity. I hope this helps shed a little more light on your questions. DW

[@wesmac5]

@@TheMendicantPhilosopher thanks so much for such a thoughtful reply! Yes I think I’m following you. I know you’ve written on the relationship on prayer and how it can give us the ability to receive more givenness/saturated phenomena. Would you say prayer also helps us in resisting the assimilation of the other into the same and honoring their infinite otherness? So even though at the end of the day I have to betray the otherness through the Said of providing a diagnosis/thematizing the patients problems(which I know Levinas acknowledges is still necessary) I can provide a therapeutic relationship whereby the otherness of the patient’s is still honored?