Emmanuel Levinas (1906–1995)

Abstract

When reading the works of Emmanuel Levinas one cannot help but to note the rich and insightful aesthetical references and allusions to painting, sculpture, drama, and literature that are prominent and plentiful throughout. While he does at certain points focus on aesthetical themes and has even developed interesting and controversial positions concerning the artistic image, expression, and criticism, these discussions are never solely meant to be contributions to aesthetics for the sake of aesthetics. Rather, it plays a supportive role in the context of his phenomenology and are properly understood within this context. The role that aesthetics plays enables the phenomenological description of alterity that is beyond traditional ontology.