Postmodern Ethics, Emptiness, and Literature

Encounters between East and West

By (author) Jae-seong Lee

Publication date:

17 July 2017

Length of book:

270 pages

Publisher

Lexington Books

ISBN-13: 9781498519229

This study advances contemporary postmodern/poststructural critical theory, literary criticism in particular, with the help of Mahāyāna—especially Ch’an/Seon (Chinese and Korean Zen)—Buddhist thought. The quest for theinfinity of the Other (West) and Emptiness or the true I (East) contributes to the exploration of the contemporary critical issues of ethics and infinity. Such an approach will awaken our sense of unrepresented, genuine transcendence and immanence; The Buddhist Emptiness shows us the absolute Other illuminated on a vaster scale. The theory section explores and links Eastern and Western philosophies, switching between the two. While discussing in depth Hegel, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Derrida, Levinas, Lacan, Deleuze, and Nancy, this study gradually guides the reader from the contemporary Western thought on the Other and infinity to the Buddhist vision of Emptiness, the ultimate reality. To overcome the dualistic mode of thought inherent in tradition of Western metaphysics, this exploration follows the line that observes Nāgārjuna and the imprint of Ch’an teachings that are most prevalent in South Korean Buddhism. The last three chapters demonstrate a Levinasian and Seon Buddhist approach to the book of Job, part of the Judeo-Christian Bible, as being a more literary than religious text, and the excess of the Gothic mood in the two most distinguished and widely celebrated novels—Bram Stoker’s Dracula and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The three texts compel readers to confront the infinity of the absolute Other or Emptiness.

The Grand Prize Winner of the 7th Wonhyo Academic Awards from the Korean Buddhism Promotion Foundation.

CHAPTER I Postmodernism through Levinasian Ethics to Buddhist Philosophy
CHAPTER II Levinasian Ethics and Other Postmodern Ethical Theories
CHAPTER III Positivity toward Infinity: Levinas, Buddhism, and Literature
CHAPTER IV Searching for a Breakthrough to the No Self or Real I: Ch’an/Seon/Zen, Levinasian Ethics, and Literary Reading
CHAPTER V A Process of Awakening in a Religious Narrative: The Book of Job
CHAPTER VI Gothic Excess as the Trace of the Other or the Real I: A Levinasian and Buddhist Approach to the Terror Mood of Dracula
CHAPTER VII Desire for the Infinity of the Other and the Excess of the Terror Mood in Frankenstein
Conclusion: Time for the True Encounter between East and West

Lee diligently and methodically surveys the major views in postmodern ethics against the background of traditional Western philosophy, i.e., modern metaphysics of presence. This involves an erudite and informed exposition of the main French postmodern views of Levinas, Derrida, Lyotard, Deleuze and Nancy, as well as their German predecessors such as Kant, Hegel, Husserl and Heidegger…. As should be clear from our discussion so far, we can find much that is of interest in this well-executed monograph. Its arguments are of a high standard and its content is rich. It is a fitting contribution to an interdisciplinary perspective on philosophy, religion and literature...This books explores a fascinating topic on a fundamentally sound project and I recommend it to whoever is interested in comparative philosophy, Asian philosophy, East-West dialogues as well as literary critics. I also look forward to a sequel to this book in the future.