Levinas and the Wisdom of Love

This volume succeeds in relating phenomenality to the ethics of service. Service makes itself visible in the practical orientation towards the neighbour, a service which originates in a summons from the other. The work is clearly set out, well-written and footnoted. The author is in command of the subject, and this offers a further reading of the relation between love, service, and visibility.

~Michael Purcell, School of Divinity, University of Edinburgh

This lucid and accessible interpretation of Levinas' thought is a splendid gift to newcomer and old-timer alike. Taking as his keys Levinas's definition of philosophy as 'the wisdom of love in the service of love' and his use of the ancient tale of the ring of Gyges, Beals helps us see that this philosophy of radical responsibility is more demanding than we would like to admit but not so excessive that we can dismiss it as hyperbole.

~Merold Westphal, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, Fordham University

The author sees and quite clearly presents the limitations of the major alternative reading in the secondary literature, the tiresome but oft repeated Derridean-deconstructive appropriation of Levinas. Beals understands the all important priority Levinas gives to ethics over ontology, and thankfully is not grinding some ideological ax. His Levinas is, basically, in my opinion, Levinas.

~Richard A. Cohen, Isaac Swift Distinguished Professor of Judaic Studies, University of North Carolina at Charlotte