Overview

Jewish thought is, in many ways, a paradox. Is it theology or is it philosophy? Does it use universal methods to articulate Judaism's particularity or does it justify Judaism's particularity with appeals to illuminating the universal? These two sets of claims are difficult if not impossible to reconcile, and their tension reverberates throughout the length and breadth of Jewish philosophical writing, from Saadya Gaon in the ninth century to Emmanuel Levinas in the twentieth. Rethinking Jewish Philosophy offers a deeply felt exploration of Jewish philosophy and will prove to be an essential and enduring text in its field.

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9780199356812

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Reviews

Aaron Hughes proposes no less than a deconstruction of the category of Jewish Philosophy. In an approach that is sensitive to history yet resolute in its conclusions, Hughes foregrounds the paradoxes and impossibilities of identity politics inherent in particular/universal binarisms, and enjoins us to enter a liberating engagement with Jewish metaphilosophy. A deeply thoughtful and principled work that should become essential reading for all students of Jewish philosophical thinking. * Sean Hand, Professor of French,University of Warwick *

Aaron Hughes proposes no less than a deconstruction of the category of Jewish Philosophy. In an approach that is sensitive to history yet resolute in its conclusions, Hughes foregrounds the paradoxes and impossibilities of identity politics inherent in particular/universal binarisms, and enjoins us to enter a liberating engagement with Jewish metaphilosophy. A deeply thoughtful and principled work that should become essential reading for all students of Jewish philosophical thinking. --Sean Hand, Professor of French, University of Warwick Aaron Hughes provides a brilliant critical analysis of Jewish philosophy that shows it to be a defensive exercise in the articulation and protection of 'Jewish Peoplehood' rather than a search for disinterested and objective Truth. Only by relinquishing its past and transcending the ideological categories it has produced, he argues, will it be possible to rethink the cultural meaning of Jewishness. This is a must-read book for all philosophers of religion. --Donald Wiebe, Professor of Philosophy, Trinity College, University of Toronto What is the purpose of Jewish philosophy? Answering this question by re-examining how we define and analyze Judaism and philosophy, Aaron Hughes develops a fascinating critique of the limitations that have hampered scholars, and gives us a highly original proposal for future Jewish philosophizing. Written with clarity and in a lively style, this book is a superb introduction to Jewish philosophy and a thoughtful challenge to all religious philosophers. --Susannah Heschel, Eli Black Professor of Jewish Studies, Dartmouth College Hughes subjects the entire project of Jewish philosophy to an incisive and provocative evaluation that is both iconoclastic and constructive, offering a fresh vision for 'doing' Jewish philosophy in the future. He argues forcefully and persuasively for a sorely needed corrective that is critical for the survival of Jewish philosophy. The book's

Author Information

Aaron W. Hughes is Philip S. Bernstein Chair of Jewish Studies, Department of Religion and Classics at the University of Rochester.

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