The ETHICS OF ALTERITY AND THE SEARCH FOR EQUAL RECOGNITION IN EMMANUEL LÉVINAS

Abstract

Historical events of the twentieth century, such as world wars and totalitarian regimes, showed the fragility of man in the face of his fellow man. Exacerbated consumerism and economic development, combined with instrumental rationality resulting from scientific and technological advances, boosted individualism, in which the self seeks personal fulfillment, the other being only an instrument for the realization of this reality. In this context, Emmanuel Lévinas' reflections on the valorization of human ethics in face of its essence arise, making criticisms of ontological philosophy and proposing otherness, which consists of the responsibility of the self before the other. The study aims to analyze whether alterity from the perspective of Emmanuel Lévinas can be a theoretical foundation for the development of equality in the concept of recognition. Through the hypothetical-inductive method, it was concluded that Lévinas' theory of otherness has enough substrate to support the application of equality of recognition.