The alterity concept in Emmanuel Lévinas

contributions from the Talmudic tradition for the thinking theological and critical Latin American

Abstract

This paper introduces the concept of Alterity in Emmanuel Lévinas as an important contribution to the construction of the Latin American theological and critical thinking. The development of this concept is gestated by the philosopher through his knowledge of the Talmudic tradition, featuring a differentiator against Western philosophy, for Lévinas abandons the concept of love of Western philosophy - love of knowledge - transforming its semantics to understand how justice for others. Thus, for Lévinas, love for each other would be woven into the condition and inspiration face / body of this other, making it before the ontology of status. Therefore, we present the proposal of ethics as first philosophy, considering the critical levinasian thought embodies the interpretation of the Athens wisdom from the love of Jerusalem. Thus, the Other takes leading place in the philosophy of Lévinas, highlighting the importance of face-to-face relationship in any philosophical and theological reflection. We therefore propose a reflection that critically contributes to the theologies analysis gestated in the Latin American environment, permeated with injustice and suffering of the victims of the world system we live in.