Rolf Hedman Mentor

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Emmanuel Levinas, a profound 20th-century philosopher, centered much of his work on ethics and the nature of human relationships. Here are some of his most insightful and wise quotes:

1. **”To approach the Other in conversation is to welcome his expression, in which at each instant he overflows the idea a thought would carry away from it.”**
– On the depth and infinite nature of engaging with another person.

2. **”The face opens the primordial discourse whose first word is obligation.”**
– Highlighting the ethical responsibility we have toward others, which is revealed in their very presence.

3. **”Our responsibility to the Other is infinite.”**
– Reflecting his belief that ethics begins in our recognition of and response to the needs of others.

4. **”True freedom lies not in autonomy but in the responsibility we bear toward others.”**
– Suggesting that genuine liberty emerges through ethical commitments.

5. **”The relationship with the Other puts me into question, empties me of myself, and allows me to be.”**
– On the transformative power of encountering others and stepping beyond self-interest.

6. **”Goodness consists in taking on responsibility for the Other.”**
– A succinct summary of his philosophy that places ethics at the center of existence.

7. **”Justice requires the presence of the third party.”**
– Expressing his idea that fairness arises when we consider the wider community and not just individual relationships.

8. **”Ethics is not derived from ontology; it precedes it.”**
– A revolutionary statement arguing that our responsibility to others is more fundamental than abstract philosophical systems.

Would you like more interpretations or a deeper exploration of his philosophical concepts?

— Emmanuel Levinas, ChatGPT 4.0