ABSTRACT
What is the phrase most evocative of inertia in the work of Levinas? It is, perhaps, the simple phrase ‘there is’ (il y a) – the most indicative of all phrases. What, then, is his most enlivening phrase? Is it ‘beyond’ (au-delà de)? As for Kierkegaard, he gratefully acknowledges the solid work of the indicative, and would never take it for granted. In the subjunctive, however, can he not expect the best of everything?
