The question of being

‘This question of ‘being’ is not a complex, ontological question, ‘the meaning of my life’, the Cartesian type stuff- it’s not all about me, Emmanuel Levinas believes that the whole question of ‘being’ is instantly informed, it only becomes a question, when faced with face of the ‘other’. ’Being’ is then not an existentialist question, but an ethical, a moral question. We as humanitarians, I think that’s where we start, what we believe: that when we face the face of the other, this other, who is like us, it brings about what some would call this imperitive, to recognise the preciousness.’

- Dr Hugo Slim, ‘Being Humanitarian: Personal Morality and Political Project in Today’s Wars’ lecture, Oxford Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict (iTunes U)

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