Ethics and Selfhood: Alterity and the Phenomenology of Obligation

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A coherent theory of ethics, as argued by James R. Mensch, necessitates an understanding of selfhood, particularly in the context of preventing genocide. He emphasizes the importance of achieving critical distance for ethical judgment without adopting a superhuman perspective. Mensch explores selfhood through embodiment and the empathy that arises in interactions with others, using Holocaust accounts to illustrate how empathy facilitates moral obligation. His analysis includes insights from major moral philosophers and advocates for literature as essential for grasping ethical responsibility, presenting a fresh perspective on ethics.