Law, Relationality and the Ethical Life: Agamben and Levinas

This book explores the influence of Emmanuel Levinas on the thought of Giorgio Agamben, focusing on their approaches to law, relationality, and the ethical life. It argues that Agamben's immanent thought presents a compelling alternative to Levinass ethics of the Other, highlighting the limitations of Agamben's non-relational form of existence. The book is valuable for scholars, researchers, and students interested in the works of Agamben and Levinas.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 250 pages
Publication date: 31 May 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This first book-length study delves into the profound influence of Emmanuel Levinas on the thought and philosophy of Giorgio Agamben, exploring the intricate relationship between law, relationality, and the ethical life. Through a comprehensive analysis, it demonstrates how Agamben's immanent thought presents a compelling, albeit flawed, alternative to Levinass ethics of the Other.

The publication of the English translation of The Use of Bodies in 2016 marked a significant milestone in Giorgio Agamben's 20-year multi-volume Homo Sacer study. Over these years, Agamben's thought has exerted a profound influence on scholarship across law, the wider humanities, and social sciences. This book aims to place Agamben's figure of the form-of-life in conversation with Levinasian understandings of alterity, relationality, and the law. By examining how Agamben and Levinas craft their respective forms of embodied existence, the book explores Agamben's attempt to transcend Levinasian ethics through the enigmatic figures of the foetus and the patient in a persistent vegetative state. These figures, known as bare life, challenge the boundaries of Agamben's non-relational approach and form of existence, raising critical questions about the limitations of his ethical framework.

In this book, we delve into the intricate interplay between Agamben and Levinas, shedding light on their shared concerns and divergent perspectives. We examine how their respective notions of the human, the ethical, and the political inform their interpretations of law, relationality, and the moral life. Through a close reading of their works, we explore the ways in which Agamben's form-of-life offers a unique perspective on these topics, challenging traditional understandings and proposing new avenues for thinking about the complexities of contemporary society.

This book will appeal to scholars, researchers, graduate students, and anyone with an interest in the thought of Giorgio Agamben and Emmanuel Levinas in the fields of law, philosophy, the humanities, and the social sciences. It provides a comprehensive and accessible introduction to their ideas, offering valuable insights into the ongoing debates and discussions in these disciplines. By exploring the influence of Levinas on Agamben's thought, this book contributes to our understanding of the broader fields and offers new avenues for future research and inquiry.

Weight: 485g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032057156