Jewish Themes in Spinoza's Philosophy

Edited By:Heidi M. Ravven And Lenn E. Goodman

Description

Breaking new ground in the study of Spinoza's philosophy, the essays in this volume explore the extent to which Spinoza may be considered a Jewish thinker. The rich diversity of Spinoza scholarship today is represented here by a wide range of intellectual methods and scholarly perspectives—from Jewish philosophy and history, to Cartesian-analytic and Continental-Marxist streams of interpretation, to the disciplines of political science and intellectual history. Two questions underlie all the essays: How and in what measure is Spinoza's a Jewish philosophy, and what is its impact on the project of Jewish philosophy as a living enterprise now and for the future? The contributors' varied perspectives afford a highly nuanced vision of the multifaceted Judaic tradition itself, as refracted through the Spinozist lens. What draws them together is the quest for enduring insights that emerge from the philosophy of Spinoza.
Abbreviations

Part I. Laying the Groundwork

1. Introduction
Heidi M. Ravven and Lenn E. Goodman

2. What Does Spinoza's Ethics Contribute to Jewish Philosophy?
Lenn E. Goodman

Part II. Metaphysics

3. Love of God in Spinoza
Lee C. Rice

4. Spinoza's Metaphysical Hebraism or Hebraic Metaphysics
Warren Zev Harvey

5. Maimonides, Spinoza, and the Problem of Creation
Kenneth Seeskin

6. “That Hebrew Word”: Spinoza and the Doctrine of the Shekhinah
Warren Montag

Part III. Theology and Epistemology

7. Maimonides, Spinoza, and the Book of Job
Edwin M. Curley

8. Spinoza's Rupture with Tradition—His Hints of a Jewish Modernity
Heidi M. Ravven

9. Why Spinoza Chose the Hebrews: The Exemplary Function of Prophecy in the Theological-Political Treatise
Michael A. Rosenthal

Part IV. The Historical Setting

10. Spinoza's Excommunication
Richard H. Popkin

About the Contributors

Index

Sujets

• Philosophie
• Philosophie de la religion
• Philosophie médiévale, scolastique
• Scolastique
• Philosophie médiévale
• Philosophie antique
• Philosophie médiévale
• Philosophie médiévale
• Medieval philosophy
• Philosophy of religion
• Judaism

Informations

• Publié par: State University of New York Press
• Date de parution: 01 février 2012
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780791488935
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

JEWISH THEMES IN SPINOZA’S PHILOSOPHY

SUNY series in Jewish Philosophy Kenneth Seeskin, editor

Jewish Themes in Spinoza’s Philosophy

EDITED BY Heidi M. Ravven AND Lenn E. Goodman

STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK PRESS

Published by State University of New York Press, Albany

© 2002 State University of New York

All rights reserved

Printed in the United States of America

No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher.

For information, address State University of New York Press, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207

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Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

Jewish themes in Spinoza’s philosophy / edited by Heidi M. Ravven and Lenn E. Goodman. p. cm. — (SUNY series in Jewish philosophy) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7914-5309-X (alk. paper) — ISBN 0-7914-5310-3 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Spinoza, Benedictus de, 1632–1677. 2. Philosophy, Jewish. I. Ravven, Heidi M., 1952– II. Goodman, Lenn Evan, 1944– III. Series.

B3999.J8 J48 2002 199'.492—dc21

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

2001034412

Dedicated to lovers of Spinoza everywhere.

We understand what our salvation or blessedness or free- dom consists in, namely, in the constant and eternal love towards God, that is, in God’s love toward humanity. This love or blessedness is called glory in the Holy Scriptures, and rightly so. . . . For it can properly be called spiritual contentment.

—Ethics, VP36S, (as translated by Samuel Shirley, emended slightly)

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Abbreviations

Contents

PART I Laying the Groundwork

Introduction Heidi M. Ravven and Lenn E. Goodman What Does Spinoza’sEthicsContribute to Jewish Philosophy? Lenn E. Goodman

Love of God in Spinoza Lee C. Rice

PART II Metaphysics

Spinoza’s Metaphysical Hebraism Warren Zev Harvey

Maimonides, Spinoza, and the Problem of Creation Kenneth Seeskin

“That Hebrew Word”: Spinoza and the Concept of the Shekhinah Warren Montag

PART III Theology and Epistemology

Maimonides, Spinoza, and the Book of Job Edwin M. Curley

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Contents

Spinoza’s Rupture with Tradition—His Hints of a Jewish Modernity Heidi M. Ravven

Why Spinoza Chose the Hebrews: The Exemplary Function of Prophecy in theTheological-Political Treatise Michael A. Rosenthal PART IV The Historical Setting

Spinoza’s Excommunication Richard H. Popkin

About the Contributors Index

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G I - IV

Abbreviations

Spinoza Opera, ed. C Gebhardt, 4 vols. (Heidelberg: Carl Winter, 1925 (reprinted 1972 vols. I to IV, with a supplement, vol. V, 1987). References are given as G I to G IV, with page and line. G II 22/10 refers to volume II, page 22, line 10.

Van Vloten and Land

Benedicti de Spinoza opera quotquot reperta sunt. 3rd ed. 4 vols. (The Hague: M. Nijhoff, 1913 and 1914) References are by vol- ume and page number: e.g., Van Vloten and Land, vol. 1: 268.

E References to theEthicsare in the format: e.g., EIIP13S1 means EthicsPart II, Proposition 13, first Scholium. A = Axiom, D = definition, dem = demonstration, C = corollary, Pref = Preface TTPSpinoza’sTractatus Theologico-Politicus References are by chapter: for example,TTPiv. TdIESpinoza’sTreatise on the Emendation of the Intellect References are by section: for example.TdIE 97 KV Spinoza’sShort Treatise on God, Man and His Well-Being(Korte verhandeling van God, de Mensch, en deszelfs Welstand) References are by part, chapter, and section: e.g.,KVI, ii, 5 GuideMaimonides’Guide to the Perplexed References are by part and chapter as follows: e.g.,GuideII 33. English translations used are specified by each author in the chapter Notes.

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