Levinas and Kierkegaard in Dialogue

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A comparative study of the thought of Levinas and Kierkegaard Few philosophers have devoted more than passing attention to similarities between the thought of Søren Kierkegaard, a Danish Christian, and Emmanuel Levinas, a French Jew. Here, one of philosophy of religion’s most distinctive voices offers a sustained comparison. Focusing on questions surrounding otherness, transcendence , postmodernity, and the nature of religious thought, Merold Westphal draws readers into a dialogue between the two thinkers. Westphal’s masterful command of both philosophies shows that each can learn from the other. Levinas and Kierkegaard in Dialogue is an insightful and accessible contribution to philosophical considerations of ethics and religion. Merold Westphal is Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Fordham University. His most recent book is Transcendence and Self-Transcendence (Indiana University Press, 2004). Indiana Series in the Philosophy of Religion merold westphal, editor http://iupress.indiana.edu 1-800-842-6796 Levinas and Kierkegaard in Dialogue Merold Westphal Philosophy Religion Westphal  Levinas and Kierkegaard in Dialogue INDIANA INDIANA University Press Bloomington & Indianapolis Levinas and Kierkegaard in Dialogue Indiana Series in the Philosophy of Religion Merold Westphal, editor Levinas and Kierkegaard in Dialogue Merold Westphal Indiana University Press Bloomington and Indianapolis This book is a publication of Indiana University Press 601 North Morton Street Bloomington, IN 47404-3797 USA http://iupress.indiana.edu Telephone orders 800-842-6796 Fax orders 812-855-7931 Orders by e-mail iuporder@indiana.edu ∫ 2008 by Merold Westphal All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. The Association of American University Presses’ Resolution on Permissions constitutes the only exception to this prohibition. The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences— Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1984. Manufactured in the United States of America Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Westphal, Merold. Levinas and Kierkegaard in dialogue / Merold Westphal. p. cm. — (Indiana series in the philosophy of religion) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-0-253-35082-4 (cloth : alk. paper) ISBN-13: 978-0-253-21966-4 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Lévinas, Emmanuel. 2. Kierkegaard, Søren, 1813–1855. I. Title. B2430.L484W47 2008 194—dc22 2007039623 1 2 3 4 5 13 12 11 10 09 08 To Dom Balestra, in friendship ...