@article{ART003378954},
author={Lee, Hwonkyun and Shinhyung Seong},
title={An Ethical Dialogue of Levinas and Barclay: Face and Gift as the Grounds of Responsibility and Hospitality},
journal={The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics},
issn={1229-8387},
year={2026},
number={65},
pages={347-384}
TY - JOUR
AU - Lee, Hwonkyun
AU - Shinhyung Seong
TI - An Ethical Dialogue of Levinas and Barclay: Face and Gift as the Grounds of Responsibility and Hospitality
JO - The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics
PY - 2026
VL - null
IS - 65
PB - The Society Of Korean Christian Social Ethics
SP - 347
EP - 384
SN - 1229-8387
AB - This paper explors the potential for structural resonance between Emmanuel Levinas’ ethics of the Other and John M.G. Barclay’s understanding of grace. Levinas critiques the Western philosophical tradition of totality, arguing that the face of the Other summons the self to responsibility prior to freedom and cognition, thereby establishing the priority of ethics over ontology. For Levinas, responsibility is asymmetrical, arising not from reciprocity or merit but from the very epiphany of the face. Barcley, in turn, reexamines Paul’s concept of grace (χ άρις) against the backdrop of ancient Mediterranean gift culture, demonstrating that the divine gift in Christ is an “incongruous gift” given without regard to the worth or merit of the recipient. This incongruous grace extends beyond individual salvation to become the constitutive principle of a new community that dismantles hierarchies of lineage, status, and gender. This paper argues that the priority of the Other in Levinas and the priority of the gift in Barclay converge in pointing toward a relational horizon that transcends anthropocentric value systems. Building on this dialogue, the paper explores the Christian social ethical possibility of restoring the Christian community — amid the fragmentation of relationships in contemporary society — as a community of hospitality grounded not in worthiness but in grace.
KW - Levinas;the Face of the Other;Responsibility;Barclay;Incongruous Gift(Grace);Hospitality;Christian Community;Christian Social Ethics
DO -
UR -
ER -
Lee, Hwonkyun and Shinhyung Seong. (2026). An Ethical Dialogue of Levinas and Barclay: Face and Gift as the Grounds of Responsibility and Hospitality. The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics, 65, 347-384.
Lee, Hwonkyun and Shinhyung Seong. 2026, "An Ethical Dialogue of Levinas and Barclay: Face and Gift as the Grounds of Responsibility and Hospitality", The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics, no.65, pp.347-384.
Lee, Hwonkyun, Shinhyung Seong "An Ethical Dialogue of Levinas and Barclay: Face and Gift as the Grounds of Responsibility and Hospitality" The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics 65 pp.347-384 (2026) : 347.
Lee, Hwonkyun, Shinhyung Seong. An Ethical Dialogue of Levinas and Barclay: Face and Gift as the Grounds of Responsibility and Hospitality. 2026; 65 : 347-384.
Lee, Hwonkyun and Shinhyung Seong. "An Ethical Dialogue of Levinas and Barclay: Face and Gift as the Grounds of Responsibility and Hospitality" The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics no.65(2026) : 347-384.
Lee, Hwonkyun; Shinhyung Seong. An Ethical Dialogue of Levinas and Barclay: Face and Gift as the Grounds of Responsibility and Hospitality. The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics, 65, 347-384.
Lee, Hwonkyun; Shinhyung Seong. An Ethical Dialogue of Levinas and Barclay: Face and Gift as the Grounds of Responsibility and Hospitality. The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics. 2026; 65 347-384.
Lee, Hwonkyun, Shinhyung Seong. An Ethical Dialogue of Levinas and Barclay: Face and Gift as the Grounds of Responsibility and Hospitality. 2026; 65 : 347-384.
Lee, Hwonkyun and Shinhyung Seong. "An Ethical Dialogue of Levinas and Barclay: Face and Gift as the Grounds of Responsibility and Hospitality" The Korean Journal of Chiristian Social Ethics no.65(2026) : 347-384.
