Social Responsibility through the Lens of Emmanuel Levinas and the Filipino Value of Sociality

Abstract

Social responsibility is incumbent upon all human beings because all are called to be ethical toward their neighbors in a disinterested way. What social responsibility demands is radical and is met when we heed the plea of that anonymous other whose face, both high and humble, triggers our guilt for the good life we enjoy and their dire condition. As Levinas insists, the face of the Other summons us to action. Where in our experience as Filipino can we locate such a high ethical standard? Many Filipino scholars claim that sociality is one of the strongest traits of the Filipino people. They are resilient in the face of trials and tribulations because of the person next to them who is willing to lend a helping hand. In the present world order and the current Philippine context, there is a high demand for each person to act more responsibly toward the person next to him. Social responsibility is challenged by the renewed threats of war on a global scale, the resurgence of old injustices like corruption and grave abuse of power, and, likewise by rampant violation of human rights. Therefore, in this article, we ask the primary question: where in our experiences as human beings can we find the notion of social responsibility that recognizes the inviolability of the Other? In answering this, the following tasks are undertaken: first, an exposition of the brief outline of Levinas’ notion of responsibility; second, an unfolding of Filipino sociality through the concepts of kapwa and pagpapakatao; and third, a thematic discussion of the converging and diverging points between Levinas’ notion of social responsibility and Filipino sociality to show that responsibility is a universal value with many faces.