Adult Education Spring Offering
Who is Emmanuel Levinas? A four-session presentation by Riverdale Temple member Michael Smith of the work of French-Jewish philosopher Emmanuel Levinas (1906-1995). Each session will begin with a 15-20 minute presentation of an aspect of that author’s thought; the rest of the session will consist in class discussion. Session content: 1. Bio-bibliography; totality vs. infinity. 2. Same vs. other, saying vs. said. 3. Being vs. beyond being; person vs. thing. 4. Ontology vs. metaphysics; sacred vs. holy.
The mini-course follows closely my book on this subject: Toward the Outside: Concepts and Themes in Emmanuel Levinas (Pittsburgh: Duquesne University Press, 2005), a copy of which will be placed on reserve in the Riverdale Temple Library.
Class meeting times. 8:15 PM to 9:30, April 2, 9, 16 and 30 (Wednesdays)
Place: 4545 Independence Ave., Bronx, NY 10471 Tel. (718) 548-3800
About Me
- Michael
- I grew up in Freeport, Long Island and then in Brookfield Center, CN. Educated in British West Indies (Barbados and Jamaica), and then in France (Paris). Taught English in Germany, then returned to the US (mid-Sixties) and taught French. Received Doctorate from University of California, San Diego, in French and Philosophical Studies. I have translated works by French historiographer Michel de Certeau, and French philosophers Maurice Merleau-Ponty and Emmanuel Levinas. My first book, "Toward the Outside: Themes and Concepts in Emmanuel Levinas" was published by Duquesne University Press in 2005. Retired from teaching French Literature and Philosophy at Berry College in Rome, GA, I moved to Riverdale with my wife Helen in 2006, where I continue to translate philosophical works from French to English for American University Presses such as Yale, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern and Fordham.