Glimmers of infinity: event and alterity in the philosophy of Lévinas

Abstract

The article explores the disruptive and transformative dimension of the encounter with the Other in the philosophy of Emmanuel Lévinas. Through a critical analysis of the Western philosophical tradition, Lévinas highlights the importance of an ethics based on radical alterity and infinite responsibility. The concept of event becomes fundamental in this context, manifesting in the face of the Other, challenging the continuity of being, and proposing a new way of understanding subjectivity and transcendence. The fundamental ideas of his work are examined, from the critique of totality and the irruption of infinity and transcendence to his analysis of the impersonal there is that presents itself as an insistent murmur, and his idea of creation. In this regard, some of his ideas are compared with those of Derrida and Schelling, emphasizing the originality and depth of his thought. Additionally, the messianic dimension of his philosophy is addressed, inviting the assumption of universal responsibility and the pursuit of a justice that transcends reciprocity and symmetry. Lévinas’ work offers a profound reconfiguration of contemporary philosophy, placing ethics and responsibility at the center of philosophical discourse.