Levinas' 'Totality and Infinity': A Reader's Guide

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Emmanuel Levinas' Totality and Infinity is a monumental work of phenomenological enquiry that goes on to assert the centrality of ethics to philosophical thought. This Reader's Guide provides a detailed explanation of the work, breaking down the occasionally intimidating but always inspirational content of Totality and Infinity for non-specialist readers, unpacking the complexities of Levinas' thought with clarity and rigour. Ideal for students coming to Levinas for the first time, the book offers essential guidance, outlining key themes, approaches to reading the text, the reception, and influence of the work, and recommends secondary reading materials.

Reviews

Admirable ... [and] accessible ... [Large's book] considers many of the obvious questions a new reader is likely to have. * Times Literary Supplement *
When he first encountered the difficult work of Emmanuel Levinas, this reviewer threw one of Levinas's books against the wall in exasperation. Had Larges book been available, the experience would have been different. Levinas's style, his methodology, his vocabulary, and his argument can seem strange. In introducing readers to Levinass most influential text, first published in French in 1961, Large (Univ. of Gloucestershire, UK) begins by working through the basics of phenomenological methodology and Levinass relation to Jewish philosophy as the assumed contexts in which Totality and Infinity occurs. After this framing, the author moves carefully through the work, offering specific analysis and interpretation of each section in turn. He concludes with a look at several problems that seem to plague Totality and Infinitypresentation, politics, the feminine, and religion. Larges account is fair and his style is accessible. His book will be an invaluable resource for students who are tempted to throw Totality and Infinity against the wall. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates; graduate students. -- J. A. Simmons, Furman University, USA * CHOICE *
Large's contribution is valuable in making accessible this fundamental text for the understanding of the thought of Emmanuel Levinas ... He eloquently guides the reader through the intricacies of Totality and Infinity ... A necessity in the library of all those studying Levinas. * Revista Estudios *
Students faced with the daunting task of reading Totality and Infinity have long awaited a lively and accessible commentaryand this is it. Large straightens out the warp and weft of Levinass text with admirable brevity, clarity, and faithfulness. Larges guide deserves to be read by students and anyone with a serious interest in reading Levinass most important philosophical work for the first time. * Peter Atterton, San Diego State University, USA *
I can think of no better guide through the thicket of difficulties that is Levinas Totality and Infinity than Will Larges book. This is a book that is engagingly written and straightforward, whilst also remaining alive to the nuance and complexity of Levinas notoriously difficult text. Those embarking upon Levinas for the first time will find this book an invaluable introduction to the intrigue and fascination of Levinas work. Meanwhile, those who are more familiar with Levinas work may find that this refreshing and stimulating book opens up new questions for them, and helps them forge new pathways for the exploration of Levinas ethics of responsibility. * Will Buckingham, Reader in Writing and Creativity, De Montfort University, UK *
This readers guide is a lucid, accessible way into an extremely difficult book, which offers the reader not only solid footing within Levinas's thinking but also occasional bridges into further philosophical discussions. Readers will appreciate patient explanation of his terminology, clear summaries of notoriously dense passages, and frequent reminders that many of Levinas's questions have also been the questions of other major thinkers, such Plato, Kant, Rosenzweig, and Heidegger. * Jeffrey Bloechl, Department of Philosophy, Boston College, USA *

Author Bio

William Large is a Reader in Philosophy at University of Gloucestershire, UK. He is the author of Ethics and the Ambiguity of Writing: Emmanuel Levinas and Maurice Blanchot (2005), Maurice Blanchot [co-authored] (2001) and Heidegger's Being and Time (2007)