
Autonomy in Jewish Philosophy
Kenneth Seeskin(Author)
Cambridge University Press
Published on 25. June 2009
Book
Paperback/Softback
268 pages
978-0-521-11462-2 (ISBN)
Description
Autonomy in Jewish Philosophy examines an important theme in Jewish thought from the Book of Genesis to the present day. Although it is customary to view Judaism as a legalistic faith leaving little room for free thought or individual expression, Kenneth Seeskin argues that this view is wrong. Where some see the essence of the religion as strict obedience to divine commands, Seeskin claims that God does not just command but forms a partnership with humans requiring the consent of both parties. Looking at classic texts from Biblical, Rabbinic, and philosophical literature, Seeskin shows that Judaism has always respected freedom of conscience and assigned an important role to the power of human reason. The book considers both existing arguments and presents its own ideas about the role of autonomy in Judaism. Clear and concise, it offers a refreshing alternative to the mysticism and dogmatism prevalent in much of the literature.
Reviews / Votes
"Seeskin is to be commended. Moreover, Seeskin's application of rationalism to Judiasm is praiseworth. Autonomy in Jewish PhilosophyR^ is not easy reading, but it repays careful study. I highly recommend this excellent book to all serious students of Jewish Philosophy." Conservative JudaismMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
Worked examples or Exercises
Dimensions
Height: 216 mm
Width: 140 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Weight
382 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-521-11462-2 (9780521114622)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Kenneth Seeskin
Autonomy in Jewish Philosophy
E-Book
01/2005
1st Edition
Cambridge University Press
€27.99
Available for download
Person
Kenneth Seeskin is Professor of Philosophy at Northwestern University, Illinois. He has published widely in the area of Jewish philosophy and his books include Searching for a Distant God: The Legacy of Maimonides (2000), Jewish Philosophy in a Secular Age (1990), Maimonides: A Guide for Today's Perplexed (1991), No Other Gods (1995) and Dialogue and Discovery: A Study in Socratic Method (1987).
Content
Preface; Abbreviations; 1. The problem of autonomy; 2. Covenant and consent in the Bible; 3. From the prophet to the sage; 4. From the sage to the philosopher; 5. The rise of modernity: Spinoza and Mendelssohn; 6. The height of modernity: Kant and Cohen; 7. Modernity under fire: Buber and Levinas; 8. Conclusion: a partnership with God; Bibliography; Index.