Introduction to Modern Jewish Philosophy: From Spinoza to Levinas - Einzelansicht

"The theological problems are to be translated into human, and the human driven forward until they reach the theological." (Franz Rosenzweig). 

This introductory seminar deals with the development of Jewish thought from the 17^th century to the end of the 20^th century. We will get to know the important thinkers and discuss key questions in their major works regarding their understanding of the relationships between philosophy and religion, Judaism and the general culture, and the human condition. Without neglecting the historical and cultural background, the starting point of the discussions will be philosophical.

https://moodle2.uni-potsdam.de/course/view.php?id=30478

Selected bibliography:

Baruch Spinoza, Complete Works. With Translations by Samuel Shirley. Edited, with Introduction and Notes, by Michael L. Morgan. Cambridge 2002.

Emmanuel Levinas, “A Religion for Adults”, Difficult Freedom: Essays on Judaism, Baltimore 1990.

Franz Rosenzweig, Philosophical and theological writings, P. Franks and M. Morgan (eds.), Indianapolis 2000.

Hermann Cohen, Religion of Reason: Out of the Sources of Judaism, trans. S. Kaplan, New York, 1995.

Martin Buber, On Judaism: An Introduction to the Essence of Judaism, Nahum Glatzer (ed.), New York 1967.

Paul Mendes-Flohr, “Jewish Thought and Philosophy: Modern Thought”, Lindsay Jones (ed.), Encyclopedia of Religion, second Edition, 2005, pp. 4899-4910.

Ze’ev Levy, Between Yafeth and Shem: on the relationship between Jewish and general philosophy, New York 1987.  

Seminar requirements: weekly reading assignments, one in-class presentation and submission of its manuscript (printed), active participation in class discussion.