Category Archives: Philosophy of Religion

Ethics and the Witness

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Michael S. Pearl

In Heidegger, Hypocrisy, and a Ruse of Rhetoric, it was noted that, where ethics is essentially a devotion to interrupting the indifference with which being processes by acting non-indifferently towards and entirely for the sake of each encountered other in … Continue reading →

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Heidegger, Hypocrisy, and a Ruse of Rhetoric

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Michael S. Pearl

In Levinas, Kant, Animals, and Anthropomorphisms, it was noted that, with regards to non-human animals, Levinas essentially contradicts Kant when Levinas states that “the ethical extends to all living things” whereas Kant insists that “Man can … have no duty … Continue reading →

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Levinas, Kant, Animals, and Anthropomorphisms

Posted on May 29, 2013 by Michael S. Pearl

(Continued from Ethical Responsibility and Non-Human Animals) In The Name of a Dog,1 Levinas says about the “wandering dog” who entered [the prisoners’] lives” “for a few short weeks, before the sentinels chased him away” that: He survived in some … Continue reading →

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Ethical Responsibility and Non-Human Animals

Posted on May 25, 2013 by Michael S. Pearl

Despite the fact that Levinas insists that “the ethical extends to all living beings” (see the discussion in Anthropomorphizing and Bestializing) such that the ethical is apart from – is otherwise than – distinctions within the biological, David L. Clark … Continue reading →

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Anthropomorphizing and Bestializing

Posted on May 22, 2013 by Michael S. Pearl

As was noted in Ethics, Attributed Subjectivity, and Noticing the face of the Other, Levinas says that “with the appearance of the human” comes a relationship which is otherwise than being – not just the possibility but, indeed, the fact … Continue reading →

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Ethics, Attributed Subjectivity, and Noticing the Face of the Other

Posted on May 18, 2013 by Michael S. Pearl

In The Priority of Ethics and the Relevance of Subjectivity, it was noted that the ethical is effected – it appears within being by interrupting the indifference with which being processes – when a conscious being (even tacitly) recognizes a … Continue reading →

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The Priority of Ethics and the Relevance of Subjectivity

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Michael S. Pearl

Emmanuel Levinas directly challenges the predominant philosophical thinking (certainly as it has evolved in the West) when he insists upon ethics as first philosophy;1 when he maintains that ethics is prior to, has priority over, is ultimately more important than … Continue reading →

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Graham Harman and the Levinas Challenge

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Michael S. Pearl

Emmanuel Levinas maintained that, in a context which includes living beings – beings who consciously experience being, the ethical has priority even over ontology. This priority arises from the apparent fact that at least some living beings are able to … Continue reading →

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More than Justified

Posted on January 12, 2013 by Michael S. Pearl

An essay regarding the natures of love, values, justification, and being with particular reference to Emmanuel Levinas In an excerpt from his book, One Body, Alexander Pruss says, It is not love … that justifies the general willingness to act … Continue reading →

Posted in Arendt, Ethics, Morality, Philosophy, Philosophy of Religion, Religion | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Importance of Nonsense

Posted on October 22, 2012 by Michael S. Pearl

The transcendent is often alleged to be ineffable. Some will quickly accept this supposed characteristic of the transcendent and tie it to Ludwig Wittgenstein’s statement, “Whereof one cannot speak, thereof one must be silent” in order to insist on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethics, History and Philosophy of Science, Morality, Philosophy, Philosophy of Religion, Philosophy of Science, Religion, Science | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments