The Journey to Self-Awareness in Levinas' Philosophy and the Irish National Tale

Essay , 2010 , 14 Pages , Grade: 1,0

Philosophy - Practical (Ethics, Aesthetics, Culture, Nature, Right, ...)

Already in ancient times the image of the Other was negatively connoted with the Foreign imagined as a monster creature, dog-headed or monocular, which has manifested itself in the opposition of the ‘civilised’ and the ‘primitive world’. This construct helps integrate the foreign reality into the own cultural horizon of knowledge. This builds the starting point for the thesis of this essay that suggests that only through the unprejudiced encounter with the Other can the Self truly be. The idea derives from Kant’s theory that claims that in order to be ourselves we need to combine with other people (Wohlgemut 2009). Therefore, what is attempted in this essay is to analyse the process of self-awareness in Maria Edgeworth’s Ennui (1809), Lady Morgan’s The Wild Irish Girl (1806) and in Levinas’s The Trace of the Other (1986). In his philosophy of encounter, Levinas promotes the devotion to the Other. For him, the key to ethical commitment lies in the encounter with the Other.

As will be shown in the course of this essay, the two discussed Irish national tales develop their narrative around this philosophy of encountering the Other that brings about self-awareness. To set a ground for the analysis, chapter two is dedicated to explore the phenomenon of mythisising the Other. Subsequently, chapter three shall analyse in what way Edgeworth, Lady Morgan and Levinas promote the shedding of the myths that develop around representing the Foreign. The process of overcoming cultural borders shall be looked at in more detail in chapter four. Furthermore, chapter five shall elucidate the national characters displayed in the Irish tales and contrast them to Levinas philosophy. Lastly, chapter six will conclude the essay in a retrospective analysis.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• Introduction
• Prejudice behind the Representation of the Other
• Overcoming Prejudices
• The Journey of Becoming
  • The Alterity of the Other
  • Self-Awareness Through The Encounter with the Other
• Is There Place for Nationalism?
• Conclusion
• Bibliography

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte

This essay aims to analyze the process of self-awareness in Maria Edgeworth's Ennui (1809), Lady Morgan's The Wild Irish Girl (1806) and in Levinas's The Trace of the Other (1986). The essay explores how the encounter with the Other, as described by Levinas, is central to achieving self-awareness and overcoming prejudices. It examines how these Irish national tales develop their narratives around this philosophy of encountering the Foreign.

• The role of prejudice in shaping perceptions of the Other
• The importance of overcoming cultural stereotypes and prejudices
• The process of self-awareness through the encounter with the Other
• The relationship between nationalism and the philosophy of encounter
• The significance of the Other in ethical commitment

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel

The first chapter introduces the concept of the Other as a foreign entity often perceived through negative stereotypes and myths. It highlights how these prejudices can hinder true understanding and create a distorted view of the Other. The second chapter delves into the phenomenon of mythologizing the Other, exploring how stereotypes and prejudices are employed to categorize and classify the Foreign within the framework of one's own cultural knowledge. It emphasizes the need to recognize and respect the Other in its alterity, acknowledging the limitations of our own knowledge and preventing the reduction of the Other to stereotypes. The third chapter examines how Edgeworth, Lady Morgan, and Levinas promote the shedding of these myths and prejudices, emphasizing the importance of encountering the Other in its uniqueness and overcoming ethnocentric perspectives. The fourth chapter focuses on the process of overcoming cultural borders and the journey of self-awareness through the encounter with the Other. It explores how the protagonists in Ennui and The Wild Irish Girl navigate their encounters with Irish culture and how these encounters contribute to their personal growth and self-discovery. The fifth chapter delves into the national characters displayed in the Irish tales and contrasts them with Levinas' philosophy, exploring the potential for nationalism within the framework of the philosophy of encounter.

Schlüsselwörter

The key words and focus themes of the text include the Other, self-awareness, prejudice, encounter, alterity, Irish national tales, Maria Edgeworth, Lady Morgan, Levinas, ethnocentrism, nationalism, and the philosophy of encounter. The essay explores how the encounter with the Other, as described by Levinas, is central to achieving self-awareness and overcoming prejudices. It examines how these Irish national tales develop their narratives around this philosophy of encountering the Foreign.

• College: University of St Andrews
• Grade: 1,0
• Author: Robert Stolt (Author)
• Publication Year: 2010
• Pages: 14
• Catalog Number: V151742
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640631988
• ISBN (Book): 9783640631841
• Language: English
• Tags: Journey, Self-Awareness, Levinas, Philosophy, Irish, National, Tale