The Paradox of Power and Weakness: Levinas and an Alternative Paradigm for Psychology

The metaethical philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas challenges Western egocentrism by describing the self as egoic yet nevertheless ethically called to transcend its own obsessions, compulsions, and addictions, and to respect and serve others. While power is powerful and weakness is weak, power can sabotage itself, and the weakness of others has power to command our attention and service. Levinas makes distinctions that offer psychology the basis for an alternative paradigm open to paradox. In The Paradox of Power and Weakness, George Kunz shows how the analyses of hagiography, cynicism, and limits on altruistic behavior by radical altruism contribute to this psychology of ethical responsibility for social sciences.

Author: George Kunz
Publisher: State University of New York Press
Published: 07/16/1998
Pages: 210
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.72lbs
Size: 8.91h x 5.87w x 0.53d
ISBN: 9780791438909

About the Author
George Kunz is Associate Professor of Psychology at Seattle University.

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