Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Requirements for Human Life01:26

Requirements for Human Life

The Earth and its atmosphere have provided humans with air, water, and food, but these are not the only requirements for survival. Humans also require a specific range of temperature and pressure that the Earth and its atmosphere provides.
Oxygen
Atmospheric air is only about 20 percent oxygen, but that oxygen is a key component of the chemical reactions that keep the body alive, including the reactions that produce ATP. Brain cells are susceptible to a lack of oxygen because they require a...
Self-Discrepancy Theory02:45

Self-Discrepancy Theory

One influential perspective on what motivates people's behavior is detailed in Tory Higgin's self-discrepancy theory (Higgins, 1987). He proposed that people hold disagreeing internal representations of themselves that lead to different emotional states.
Kubler Ross's Stages of Dying01:21

Kubler Ross's Stages of Dying

Elisabeth Kübler-Ross significantly advanced psychology's understanding of the process of dying with her influential book, On Death and Dying (1969). She focused on studying terminally ill individuals and outlined five stages commonly experienced when coping with death: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
In denial, individuals reject the reality of their condition, often thinking, "This isn't true; I feel fine," as a way to protect themselves from emotional distress. Anger...
Standards of Care II01:19

Standards of Care II

Nurses bear specific legal responsibilities under several federal statutes, including:
Functions of Life01:23

Functions of Life

Human life is characterized by a variety of functions that are essential for survival and well-being. These functions include metabolism, movement, development, growth and reproduction.
Metabolism
The basic function of an organism is to consume energy and molecules in foods, convert some of it into fuel for movement, sustain body functions, and build and maintain body structures. There are two types of reactions that accomplish this: anabolism and catabolism.
Anabolism is the process whereby...
Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Adulthood01:27

Erikson's Theory on Socioemotional Development during Adulthood

Erik Erikson's theory of psychosocial development outlines a series of stages through which individuals progress across the lifespan. Each stage involves a psychosocial conflict that significantly influences personal growth and well-being. Three key stages — intimacy versus isolation, generativity versus stagnation, and integrity versus despair — highlight the developmental challenges faced in adulthood.
Intimacy Versus Isolation in Early Adulthood
Individuals in early adulthood, from the 20s...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same journal

Reconciling Subsistence Emissions and Prevention in Environmentally Sustainable Healthcare.

Journal of bioethical inquiry·2026
Same journal

Why the Social Gradient in Health-Related Behaviour is Unjust : An Unconditionalist Perspective.

Journal of bioethical inquiry·2026
Same journal

Mapping the Representation of Race and Other Health Disparities in U.S. Orthopaedic Journals : A Scoping Review.

Journal of bioethical inquiry·2026
Same journal

Safeguarding Physical and Mental Health Rights in African Conflict Regions: Ethical Responsibilities, Barriers, and Collaborative Efforts.

Journal of bioethical inquiry·2026
Same journal

Ibsen's An Enemy of the People and the Ethics of Public Health Disclosure.

Journal of bioethical inquiry·2026
Same journal

Is Unconsciousness the Intention? Physicians' Perspectives on Palliative Sedation Outside Specialized Palliative Care: A Qualitative Study.

Journal of bioethical inquiry·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Mindfulness in Motion (MIM): An Onsite Mindfulness Based Intervention (MBI) for Chronically High Stress Work Environments to Increase Resiliency and Work Engagement
12:22

Mindfulness in Motion (MIM): An Onsite Mindfulness Based Intervention (MBI) for Chronically High Stress Work Environments to Increase Resiliency and Work Engagement

Published on: July 1, 2015

The Imperative to Live Fully.

Karim Benammar1

  • 1, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. karim@plethora.nl.

Journal of Bioethical Inquiry
|June 9, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Philosopher Alphonso Lingis, known for celebrating excess, developed a unique ethical imperative. His philosophy, influenced by Kant and Levinas, emphasizes responding to life

Keywords:
EroticismEthics of encounterImperativeKantLevinasLingisNietzschePhenomenology

More Related Videos

Long-term Live-cell Imaging to Assess Cell Fate in Response to Paclitaxel
08:29

Long-term Live-cell Imaging to Assess Cell Fate in Response to Paclitaxel

Published on: May 14, 2018

Setup and Execution of the Rapid Cycle Deliberate Practice Death Notification Curriculum
04:36

Setup and Execution of the Rapid Cycle Deliberate Practice Death Notification Curriculum

Published on: August 5, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 10, 2026

Mindfulness in Motion (MIM): An Onsite Mindfulness Based Intervention (MBI) for Chronically High Stress Work Environments to Increase Resiliency and Work Engagement
12:22

Mindfulness in Motion (MIM): An Onsite Mindfulness Based Intervention (MBI) for Chronically High Stress Work Environments to Increase Resiliency and Work Engagement

Published on: July 1, 2015

Long-term Live-cell Imaging to Assess Cell Fate in Response to Paclitaxel
08:29

Long-term Live-cell Imaging to Assess Cell Fate in Response to Paclitaxel

Published on: May 14, 2018

Setup and Execution of the Rapid Cycle Deliberate Practice Death Notification Curriculum
04:36

Setup and Execution of the Rapid Cycle Deliberate Practice Death Notification Curriculum

Published on: August 5, 2020

Area of Science:

  • Philosophy
  • Ethics
  • Existentialism

Background:

  • Alphonso Lingis (1933-2025) was a philosopher known for exploring themes of eccentricity, eroticism, and excess.
  • This essay examines the apparent contradiction between his life/work and his adoption of the normative concept of the imperative.
  • The study draws on a personal and philosophical friendship spanning over three decades.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the tension between Alphonso Lingis's embrace of excess and his development of a strong ethical imperative.
  • To analyze how Lingis adapted Immanuel Kant's concept of the imperative within his own philosophical framework.
  • To investigate the personal and philosophical influences, including Emmanuel Levinas, that shaped Lingis's ethical thought.

Main Methods:

  • Philosophical analysis of Alphonso Lingis's published works and concepts.
  • Examination of personal encounters and experiences that influenced Lingis's ethical framework.
  • Comparative study with the ethical theories of Immanuel Kant and Emmanuel Levinas.

Main Results:

  • Lingis adapted Kant's imperative, arguing for a pre-rational summons to accompany the dying, respond to nature, and dedicate oneself to life's tasks.
  • His imperative is grounded in personal encounters where strangers risked their lives for him, resonating with Levinas's ethics of the Other.
  • Lingis's unconventional life exemplified his philosophy, insisting on an imperative to live life fully.

Conclusions:

  • Alphonso Lingis developed a unique ethical imperative rooted in both philosophical adaptation and profound personal experience.
  • His philosophy challenges conventional notions by linking a celebration of life's intensity with a profound sense of duty.
  • The study highlights how Lingis's life and work together advocate for a fully lived existence under a powerful ethical call.