Moving beyond identity: reading the Zhuangzi and Levinas as resources for comparative philosophy

Berenpas, M. (2024)

Doctoral Thesis

In this dissertation I argue that the proto-daoist text the Zhuangzi and the ethical relation of Levinas are fruitful resources to reconsider the self-other relation in comparative philosophy. Comparative philosophy is a hermeneutical practice in which the philosopher's assumptions, beliefs and emotional commitments influence and determine the comparative process. I argue that in order to overcome injustice and theoretical colonization of the cultural other, we need to adopt an ethical attiude in which we reside in the pivot and are willing to take the quesiton of social justice into account

• Comparative philosophy
• Emmanuel Levinas
• The Zhuangzi
• Intercultural philosophy

• All authors: Berenpas, M.
• Supervisor: Berger, D.L.
• Co-supervisor: Uljée, R.
• Committee: Chouraqui, F.; Duyndam, J.; Wang, R.R.; Lindberg, S.E.; Li, J.
• Qualification: Doctor (dr.)
• Awarding Institution: Institute for Philosophy, Faculty of Humanities, Leiden University
• Date: 2024-07-03