Ethical monotheism : a philosophy of Judaism / Ehud Benor.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Benor, Ehud, author.

Series:

Routledge Jewish studies series.

Routledge Jewish Studies

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Jewish ethics--Philosophy.

Jewish ethics.

Religion and ethics.

Monotheism.

God (Judaism).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (108 pages).

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York, N.Y. : Routledge, 2018.

Summary:

"The term Ethical Monotheism is an important marker in Judaism's tumultuous transition into the modern era. The term emerged in the context of culture-wars concerning the question of whether or not Jews could or should become emancipated citizens of modern European states. It appeared in arguments whether or not Judaism could be considered a Religion of Reason--a symbolic, motivational representation of a universal morality, and in debates about whether or not Judaism could or should reform itself into a Religion of Reason. This book is both a decisive departure from such discussions and an attempt to add a further, post-modern, statement to their ongoing development. As departure, it refuses to take for granted a philosophical conception of Religion of Reason as the standard for Ethical Monotheism according to which Judaism was to be evaluated or reformed. As continuation, the book undertakes a phenomenology of Jewish modes of ethical religiosity that allows it to inquire what kind of ethical monotheism Judaism might be. Through sophisticated analysis of select "snapshots," or "fragments of a hologram," guided by a robust theory of religion, the author discloses Judaic ethical monotheism as an ongoing wrestling with the meaning of justice. By closely examining five main "snapshots" of this long process--the Bible, rabbinic Judaism, Maimonides, The Zohar, and the modern philosophers, Buber and Levinas--the author offers his own constructive philosophy of Judaism and his own distinctive philosophy of religion"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

chapter Introduction

Holistic study of Judaism / Ehud Benor

chapter 1 The tree of knowledge

Limits of God’s power over chaos / Ehud Benor

chapter 2 Afflictions of love

Rabbinic moral psychology / Ehud Benor

chapter 3 Cosmological Halakha

Maimonides’s ethico-theology / Ehud Benor

chapter 4 Theosophic Torah

A kabbalist theory of justice / Ehud Benor

chapter 5 Before the law

Buber and Levinas – totality vs. transcendence / Ehud Benor

chapter 6 Concluding Reflections / Ehud Benor

chapter Postscript

Can Judaism become archaic? / Ehud Benor.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references at the end of each chapters and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-351-26394-3

1-351-26395-1

9781351263962

OCLC:

1019723584