On 4-8 July, the Emmanuel Levinas Center of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU) together with the LSMU Department of Bioethics and partners from SIREL (France) organises a five-day cycle of events dedicated to Emmanuel Levinas\u2019s personality, life, philosophy, and European values from E. Levinas\u2019s perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, as the world faces a meaningless war, real-time monitoring of human killings, pandemics and unprecedented migrant crises inevitably raises questions about humanity, values, relationships, death, guilt, and responsibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The world-famous philosopher of Lithuanian origin Emmanuel Levinas, who personally suffered the horrors of world wars and the loss of his loved ones, cared about the same issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Having survived hell, he saw the point of talking about forgiveness, concern, an authentic, close, and at the same time responsible relationship with the Other (person), constantly emphasising responsibility for the Other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, we boldly attribute the role of moral authority to E. Levinas, and his philosophical insights become a projection and perspective of values. E. Levinas is a philosopher whose thoughts call for a rise to a higher, more noble level of responsibility. Responsibility that is especially needed today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Emmanuel Levinas spent his early years in Kaunas, later choosing to study at Western universities, and after becoming a French citizen, he established himself in Paris forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLevinas in Kaunas\u201d is a so-called cycle, which will also be attended by E. Levinas\u2019s daughter Simone Hansel, who will travel from Paris to Kaunas especially on this occasion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The most important event of the week is the international conference \u201cYoung Levinas\u201d, where the most famous researchers of E. Levinas not only from Europe, but also from Canada, USA, Japan, Ukraine will give presentations: Jean-Michel Salanskis, Jo\u00eblle Hansel, Andrius Valevi\u010dius, Alain David, Corinne Enaudeau , David Lang, Jean Fran\u00e7ois Rey, and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Levinas\u2019s philosophy had a great influence on the famous human rights activist, dissident, the President of Czechoslovakia, and later the Czech Republic Vaclav Havel, so it is no coincidence that the Czech Ambassador, His Excellency V\u00edt Korselt, will come to Kaunas to greet participants of the conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Levinas\u2019s ideas naturally fit into the healthcare context. E. Levinas\u2019s ethics speaks of meeting the Other, taking responsibility for the Other (the patient), vulnerability and humanity in the relationship, turning to specific human needs, worrying which would reduce pain, suffering and not leaving one alone in the face of death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Based on E. Levinas\u2019s reflections and adapting his ideas to the current events of our time, we should do everything we can to maintain respect for the person and preserve their dignity, because there is nothing more important in a relationship with another person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The care ethics perspective, inspired by E. Levin\u2019s ideas, invites doctors, nurses, social workers, and other healthcare professionals to reconsider their mission, values, and relationship with the patient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The far-reaching cycle of events seeks to spread the word about one of the most famous philosophers of the twentieth century and to bring him back to the field of Lithuanian vision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n