99010 - History of Early Modern and Modern Jewish Philosophy (1) (LM)

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, students have an advanced understanding of the relevance of a multidisciplinary approach to the analysis of Modern and Contemporary Jewish philosophy. They are able to analyze religious phenomena through interdisciplinary approaches. They apply research methods to address issues relating to Modern and Contemporary Jewish philosophical traditions and are aware of the context of cultural, linguistic and religious pluralism.

Course contents

After an introduction on the epistemological basis of the concept of "Jewish philosophy", the course will be dedicated to investigating the different philosophical-theological positions that are present about the relationships between philosophy, politics and religion in early twentieth-century German Judaism (also through the analysis of Spinoza's fortune ): orthodoxy, assimilation, religious liberalism, "moderate" enlightenment, political Zionism, cultural Zionism, "new thinking", Wissenschaft des Judentums. Starting with the emancipation processes of German Jews between the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the desire for assimilation of many liberal and bourgeois Jews matured in Germany at the turn of the Great War. But this desire is counterbalanced by three opposing tendencies: the anti-Semitic movements of the conservative German right, the Jewish orthodoxy and the movements of "return" to Judaism (especially Zionism, but also the circles gathered around Franz Rosenzweig and Martin Buber). In this complex and contradictory context, theological questions and political problems, social tensions and community aspirations add up which - flanked by the debates on the crisis of modernity - agitate German and Jewish-German culture, within which an important role is played by Hermann Cohen and one of his most attentive critics (Leo Strauss) starting from the discussion on Spinoza's "Theological-Political Treatise".

Readings/Bibliography

Spinoza, Trattato teologico-politico, capp. I, II, III, V.

H. Cohen, Spinoza. Stato e religione, ebraismo e cristianesimo, a cura di R. Bertoldi, Brescia, Morcelliana, 2021.

L. Strauss, Il testamento di Spinoza, a cura di R. Caporali, Milano-Udine, Mimesis, 2016.

C. Altini, Una filosofia in esilio. Vita e pensiero di Leo Strauss, Roma, Carocci, 2021, pp. 11-118.

Non-attending students must also study this book:

H. Cohen, Kant e l’ebraismo. L’umanità come futuro di giustizia, a cura di R. Bertoldi, Brescia, Morcelliana, 2018.

Teaching methods

Lectures and analysis of texts (lectures in presence). The teaching language will be Italian. Attendance is not compulsory.

The course will be divided into 6 parts of 1 CFU each: (1) a brief introduction on the history of Jewish philosophy between the Middle Ages and the Modern Age; (2) the analysis of the main theoretical passages of Spinoza's biblical hermeneutics; (3) the Jewish Enlightenment and the movements to "return" to Judaism in Germany between XVIII and XIX century; (4) the Spinoza debate between assimilation, Zionism and orthodoxy in German Jewry; (5) the relationship between the Enlightenment and Judaism in Hermann Cohen; (6) the "return" to Judaism and the criticism of modern philosophy in Leo Strauss.

Assessment methods

Oral exam (at the end of the course). The exam consists of 3 questions on the texts presented and discussed in class. The exam is considered passed if the student answers (in a complete and reasoned way) to one question and shows to have at least basic knowledge in answering another question.

Exam sessions (6) are scheduled for the following months of the academic year: April, May, June, October, November (for all students).

Teaching tools

Some lessons will be recorded and made available to non-attending students.

Students who require specific services and adaptations to teaching activities due to a disability or specific learning disorders (SLD), must first contact the appropriate office: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students.

Office hours

See the website of Carlo Altini