Beyond the Said: A Reassessment of Voice and Relationality in Adriana Cavarero and Emmanuel Lévinas

This paper explores points of divergence and convergence between the philosophical ideas of Adriana Cavarero and Emmanuel Lévinas. It presents Cavarero’s exploration of vocal ontology in For More than One Voice and analyzes tensions and similarities between the two thinkers across four key themes: communication, intersubjectivity, responsibility, and reciprocity. These themes connect the ontological aspects of voice with the ethical dimensions of vocality, while revealing significant differences in how each philosopher addresses the issue of gender. By engaging with the works of Cavarero and Lévinas, this paper aims to encourage a dialogue between feminist and traditional philosophical discourses.