Levinas, Rowing, and Infinite Relationality
This paper explores the sport of rowing as a lived metaphor for Emmanuel Levinas’s philosophy of infinite responsibility and ethical relationality. Levinas posits that encountering the Other binds us in an inescapable ethical obligation, akin to the mutual dependence of rowers in a boat. The synchronicity and interdependence required in rowing reflect the Levinasian notions of proximity and transcendence, where the self is called beyond its own limitations through responsibility to teammates. The unspoken promise of reciprocity in rowing mirrors the ethical commitment Levinas describes, with each stroke representing a gesture toward the Other. Even when personal conflicts arise, the ethical bond remains unbroken, reinforcing the communal nature of responsibility. Through shared effort and pursuit of perfection, rowing transcends physical exertion and embodies an ethical and spiritual practice. In this way, the sport offers a profound reflection on relationality, sacrifice, and the infinite call to responsibility.