The Cambridge Companion to Modern Jewish Philosophy

Modern Jewish philosophy emerged in the seventeenth century with the impact of the new science and modern philosophy on thinkers who were reflecting upon the nature of Judaism and Jewish life. This collection of essays examines the work of several of the most important of these figures from the seventeenth to the late-twentieth centuries and addresses themes central to the tradition of modern Jewish philosophy: language and revelation autonomy and authority the problem of evil messianism the influence of Kant and feminism. Included are essays on Spinoza Mendelssohn Cohen Buber Rosenzweig Fackenheim Soloveitchik Strauss and Levinas. Other thinkers discussed include Maimon Benjamin Derrida Scholem and Arendt. The sixteen original essays are written by a world-renowned group of scholars especially for this volume and give a broad and rich picture of the tradition of modern Jewish philosophy over a period of four centuries.