Clarity and obscurity: Heidegger, Levinas and the invisible God

Abstract

This text aims at examining the pair clarity/obscurity both in Heidegger and Levinas. In the former, it is the interpretation on Hölderlin that represents the main role. In the latter, it is the whole influence of Shakespeare and Judaism that stands out. It is well known that Levinas' thought unfolds itself principally as a critique against the inhuman character of Being and the Sacred as well. This attitude seems to separate him radically from his praise on the poetical language. Nevertheless, the article emphasizes that, as notorious the distance between both philosophers may be, a comparison between them is still possible. And this is so because, independently from their own peculiarities and thematic preferences, both converge to the point where they try to think the human existent through a phenomenology of the invisible God. Keywords: Being, Sacred, Clarity, Obscurity, Phenomenology.