COMPASSION FOR THE OTHER IN LEVINAS AND BUDDHISM: THE CASE OF THE BODHISATTVA

Authors

  • Kajornpat Tangyin

Keywords:

Levinas; Buddhism; Compassion; Thich Nhat Hanh

Abstract

The philosophy of Levinas, gives a primacy to ethics
over ontology, and a primacy of the other over the self.
This is something which is also found in the tradition
of Mahayana Buddhism, especially with regard to
compassion, and the idea of the role of the Bodhisattva.
This paper compares Levinas’s philosophy of ethics with
the teaching of Mahayana Buddhism and and demonstrates
how they are connected by their emphasis on the virtue of
compassion. Both advocate a departure from the ego-self
to the compassion for the other. Levinas like Buddhism
redefines subjectivity through its responsibility to the
other. So reading Levinas through Buddhism allows us
to understand the shift from the Western idea of the self
to the responsibility towards the other, and it allows us
to understand the responsibility the self has towards
addressing the suffering of the other. Also reading Levinas
through Buddhism allows us to understand a respect for
non-human nature which remains within the framework of
Levinas’ philosophy.

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Published

2023-01-06

Issue

Vol. 23 No. 2 (2022): July to December 2022

Section

Articles

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