Jewish Philosophy in a Secular Age

by Kenneth Seeskin

Overview

Clearly written, historically sophisticated, Jewish Philosophy in a Secular Age presents a running dialogue between a rationalist understanding of religion and its many critics, ranging from Descartes and Hume to Kierkegaard, Buber, and Fackenheim. The author confronts such classical problems as divine attributes, creation, revelation, suspension of the ethical, ethics and secular philosophy, the problem of evil, and the importance of the Holocaust. On each issue, the author sets the terms of the debate and works toward a constructive resolution.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781438419336
Publisher:	State University of New York Press
Publication date:	02/01/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	256
File size:	786 KB

About the Author

Kenneth Seeskin is Philip M. and Ethel Klutznick Professor of Jewish Civilization at Northwestern University. His books include Dialogue and Discovery: A Study in Socratic Method, also published by SUNY Press.

Table of Contents

Preface

1. Introduction

2. The Positive Contribution of Negative Theology

3. Miracles and Creation

4. Revelation

5. Suspending the Ethical

6. Does Secular Moral Philosophy Rest on a Mistake?

7. Job and the Problem of Evil

8. Fackenheim's Dilemma

9. Universality and Particularity

Bibliography

Index

Editorial Reviews

Seeskin tackles a problematic notion that an inquiry can be both Jewish and philosophical, seeking to get secular philosophers to pay more attention to Jewish philosophy and to get Jewish philosophers to pay more attention to secular philosophy. His work is a kind of dialogue, concentrating on selected texts and themes, rather than an overview of the thought of each thinker he discusses. Paper edition (unseen), $16.95. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

"It addresses central questions in classic and current Jewish religious thought—analyzes them in an obviously erudite, unpretentious, even elegant manner, solidly derived from the classic texts of general and religious literature—and thus produces a constructive 'relevant' philosophical theology that is very likely to be of concern not only to Jewish thinkers but, as a paradigm, to any thoughtful person." — Steven S. Schwarzchild, Washington University

From the Publisher