David Ross Fryer - Intervention of the Other

In this work, I argue, following Levinas, that the ethical is an an-archic structure of subjectivity and that, as an an-archic structure of subjectivity, the ethical constantly presents itself to us as we live our daily lives. It is, thus, in a very real sense our lived reality, whether we choose to accept it or not. I further argue, following Lacan, that it is up to us to make the choice to accept it and take it upon ourselves, as a desire for the good of the other. As such, I offer this project not as a study of two dense thinkers in an esoteric field, though it may in some sense be that, but rather as a work of chosen responsibility, as the work of life, and it is a work that I can only be engaged in because of the others who surround and guide me and who have helped shape me such that I strive to embrace the ethical structure that lies at the base of my being a subject. It is in this spirit that I offer my thanks to the many friends, family, and colleagues who have played such important parts in my life and in this works coming to be. Thanks to the scholarsteachers, students, and colleaguesfrom whom I have learned so much in our conversations over the years, especially Bettina Bergo, Lenny Clapp, Carolyn Cusick, Wendell Dietrich, Mary Ann Doane, Stephen Dunning, Lewis Gordon, Ben Haines, Carter Heyward, Vincent Hope, Thomas Kniesche, Alan Kors, Michael Michau, Michael Monahan, Marilyn Nissim-Sabat, Stephen Priest, Jock Reeder, Ellen Rooney, Zach Summers, Barney Twiss, and Elizabeth Weed. Special thanks to Wendell Dietrich for years of support, guidance, and the very best kind of teaching, advising, and friendship a student could hope for. Thanks to Jean-Michel Rabat for a generous and constructive reading of the manuscript and for his enthusiastic support in helping me publish it. Thanks to Judith Feher Gurewich for signing up this book for Other Press and to the staff at Other Press for their hard work in producing the book, especially Blake Radcliffe and Bob Hack. Thanks to Zach Summers for help with proofreading and preparing the index. Thanks to the friends who have supported me in so many way over the years of writing and rewriting, in particular Lexi Adams, Josh Bartok, Michael DEsopo, Lisa Fabish, Becca Galuska, Lewis and Jane Gordon, Michelle Gorenstein, April Herms, Liz Loeb (theory whore), Marilyn and Charley Nissim-Sabat, Zach Summers, and Alex Wolfson. Special thanks to Zo Mizuho, just for being Zo. Thanks to my family, especially my brothers and sisters, Eric and Jennifer Fryer, Beth and Michael Blumberg, and Andrea Fryer, for the love and support they give me. Thanks to Sue and Alan Lubin for welcoming me into their family. Special thanks to my parents, Sandy and Larry Fryer, who taught me from a young age just what it is to desire the good of the other. Finally, immeasurable thanks to my partner, Terry Lubin, for supporting me, encouraging me, and giving me more every day, and to our daughter, Elie, in whom we see the future. It is with the greatest of love that I dedicate this work to them.