Levinas, the Frankfurt School and Psychoanalysis

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by C. Fred Alford

Wesleyan University Press

Due/Published March 2003, 220 pages, paper

ISBN 0819566039

Drawing upon both the object relations tradition in psychoanalysis, as well as the work of the Frankfurt School of Critical Theory, Alford argues that postmodern ethics such as that inspired by Levinas risk devaluing ordinary human attachments in favor of relationships "without relation," as Levinas puts it. This book offers an introduction to Levinas as well as a critique of the Frankfurt School.

"Using the tools of Frankfurt School Critical Theory and psychoanalytic Object Relations Theory, Alford provides a sober challenge to the assumption that Levinas can serve as the guiding spirit of ethical practice in a postmodern age."--Martin Jay