Course Description
What is the purpose of the commandments? Why do innocents suffer? Does the practice of Judaism add anything to ethics or is it even contrary? Is the Torah compatible with science? This course explores the variety of distinctive ways the rich tradition of Jewish philosophical thought has addressed such issues.
Athena Title
Jewish Philosophy
Prerequisite
PHIL 2010 or PHIL 2010H or PHIL 2010E or PHIL 2020 or PHIL 2020H or PHIL 2020E or PHIL 2030 or PHIL 2030H or PHIL 2030E or permission of department
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Students will become familiar with the philosophical issues that are central to the chosen theme of the course and with a variety of different ways Jewish philosophers have addressed each issue. Students will read original philosophical works. They will be expected to locate arguments in these texts, to present the arguments (as arguments rather than as assertions or summaries), to engage these arguments by posing and evaluating critical counter arguments.
Topical Outline
1. Jewish Philosophy: Its Nature, History, and Sources 2. Belief, Science, and Theism 3. Idolatry 4. Commandments and Reason 5. Immortality 6. Divine Justice and Human Suffering 7. Chosenness 8. Redemption and Messianism
Syllabus