Singularity and Community: Levinas and democracy. Issue 4 (20th March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhao, Guoping
• Is Part Of: Educational philosophy and theory. Volume 48:Issue 4(2016)
• Page Start: 346
• Page End: 359
• Publication Date: 2016-03-20
• Subjects: community -- singularity -- subjectivity -- Levinas -- language -- discourse -- speaking -- listening; Education -- Philosophy -- Periodicals; Teaching -- Periodicals; Éducation; Philosophie de l'éducation; Théorie de l'éducation; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 370.1
• DOI: 10.1080/00131857.2015.1041008
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-1857

Abstract

Abstract: This article explores and extends Levinas's ideas of singularity and community as multiplicity and argues that his identification of language and discourse as the means to create ethical communities provides tangible possibilities for rebuilding genuine democracy in a humane world. These ideas help us reimagine school and classroom as communities open to differences. They also give education the opportunity to support the emergence of the singular and the irreducible—infinite human beings.