Publication Details

Abstract

The article explores the relationship between labor and work in Levinas, taking into consideration Arendt’s understanding of action as well as the Marxist conception of labor. The sections dealing with the concept of work in Levinas’ Totality and Infinity offer a roughly reproduction of the Marxist dichotomy creation/self-creation: on one hand there is the claim to the unity of labor and expression; on the other hand there is an alienated labor with this unity broken. Here the works are commodities and workers dishonored and, what is more, exploited. Thus the reader is left with following questions: What is the true reason of breaking this fundamental bond of a person with herself/himself? How precisely this break is accomplished?