Twilight of Jewish Philosophy: Emmanuel Levinas' Ethical Hermeneutics »

Emmanuel Levinas (1906-1995) is widely acknowledged as one of the great Jewish thinkers of the 20th century, yet during his lifetime he refused the label 'Jewish philosopher', insisting that he was a philosopher tout court. The Twilight of Jewish Philosophy explores the relationship between Levinas' ethical philosophy and his understanding of Judaism.
The first chapter focuses on the 'face-to-face' or 'ethical relation', as it is presented in Totality and Infinity. Subsequent chapters are concerned with showing how this quasi- phenomenological account of the ethical relation provides the orientation for Levinas' approach to interpreting the texts of both Judaism and western thought, his 'ethical hermeneutics'. Through close readings of his major texts, the significance of key terms in Levinas' discourse - particularly 'humanism', 'God' and 'Judaism' - is clarified. Finally, the author examines the writings that constitute Levinas' most distinctive contribution to Jewish thoug

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Explores the relationship between Levinas' ethical philosophy and his understanding of Judaism. The first chapter focuses on the face-to-face or ethical relation as it is presented in . Subsequent chapters demonstrate how this quasi-phenomenological account of the ethical relation provides the orientation for Levinas' approach to interpreting the texts of both Judaism and western thought. Through close readings of Levinas' major texts, the author clarifies the significance of key terms such as humanism, God, and Judaism. Finally, he examines the philosopher's talmudic commentaries. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknew.com)

Introduction
Levinas' Critique of Western Philosophy
Ethical Philosophy
Levinas' Method
The Holocaust and Western Philosophy
Conclusion
HUMANISM AND ETHICS
Introduction
ETHICAL PHILOSOPHY
Humanism and Anti-Humanism
Towards a New Humanism
Conclusion
IS LEVINAS' ETHICS THEOLOGICAL?
Introduction
Totality and Infinity
Levinas' Later Work
Conclusion
POST-HOLOCAUST JUDAISM
Introduction
Ethics and the '614th Commandment'
Judaism as Ethical Teaching: Levinas' Hebraic Humanism
Conclusion
'TRANSLATING THE BIBLE INTO GREEK' - LEVINAS' ETHICAL
HERMENEUTICS
Introduction
Levinas' Talmudic Commentaries
Athens and Jerusalem
Levinas' Talmudic Hermeneutic
CONCLUSION