Shankman, UNESCO professor in Transcultural studies at the University of Oregon, examines the popular catch phrase "the Other" through the lens of the writings of philosopher Emmanuel Levinas.
Unlike the tendency to embrace "the other" as someone culturally different and alien, but in no way inferior, Shankman redefines it as seeing everyone, including one's own family, as others. He
takes as his starting point Rembrandt's painting "The Sacrifice of Isaac" in which Abraham's son has become the Other. He then turns to literature from both within and outside of Western
European traditions, including Primo Levi, Italo Calvino, Mongo Beti, and Mahfouz. Shakespeare and contemporary poet Edgar Bowers. In his redefinition of the Other, Shankman emphasizes the
importance the individual actions as seen in the works studied. Levinasian ethics are found in the assumption of personal responsibility. Annotation 穢2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
(booknews.com)
