Religious Studies 3A03/Philosophy 3J03 (Fall 2004): Modern Jewish Thought (Hollander)

SYLLABUS-IN-PROGRESS

Religious Studies 3A03 / Philosophy 3J03 (Fall 2004)

MODERN JEWISH THOUGHT

updated November 25, 2004

This syllabus is posted at http://socserv.mcmaster.ca/danahol/3a03 and is also accessible by way of my home page (see below). It will be updated periodically, and students in the class are asked to consult it regularly during the semester.

Final Paper Assignment posted (updated Nov. 24). See also Tips for Writing an Effective Paper.

Resources and Links | WebCT course website (for online discussion)

CLASS MEETINGS: Wednesdays, 7-9/10 p.m., University Hall B116

INSTRUCTOR: Dana Hollander, Department of Religious Studies, University Hall 109
(905) 525-9140, ext. 24759* danahol@mcmaster.ca* http://univmail.cis.mcmaster.ca/~danahol/

*in your phone and e-mail messages, please let me know how I can reach you by phone

OFFICE HOURS: Mondays, 3:15 - 4:15 p.m., or by appointment.

Course Description / Course Readings / Course Requirements | SCHEDULE: September / October / November

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course focuses on those German-Jewish philosophers (Hermann Cohen, Martin Buber, Franz Rosenzweig) whose work helped define what has been understood by Jewish philosophy in the 20th century. We will then read some works by the French-Jewish philosopher Emmanuel Levinas, as a post-Holocaust thinker who has engaged with the German-Jewish philosophical legacy.

Questions to be considered include: Can there be such a thing as a Jewish philosophy, or a philosophy of Judaism? How have Jewish traditions participated in the philosophical canon or in philosophical questioning? How does the question of Judaism and philosophy relate to the broader question of the relationship of religion or theology to philosophy (revelation vs. reason)? Given that we understand philosophy as having a claim to universal validity, what does it mean to emphasize its historically or culturally determinate sources (such as Greek or Judeo-Christian)?

COURSE READINGS

There is usually more than one way you can obtain each reading - see details for each title on the syllabus.

Books for this course have been ordered with Titles

All the readings are also on reserve at Mills Library. Check on the status of a title via the MORRIS online catalogue, or look up the Mills Library reserve lists under "Hollander" in MORRIS. Also on reserve are the German- and French-language original editions of the works we will be studying; please ask me if you would like help in locating any of these.

The following coursepacks containing readings are available from Titles:

Coursepack 1 contains part of the selection we are reading from Hermann Cohen, Religion of Reason Out of the Sources of Judaism (restricted for copyright reasons). Additional arrangements will need to be made for you to obtain the rest of the selection (details to be discussed in class), or you can purchase the book.

Coursepack 2 contains other reading selections not included in the "required" books available for purchase.

However, since it is much cheaper to make personal photocopies of readings from the books on reserve than to buy the coursepacks (whose prices include hefty copyright fees that the bookstore is obliged to charge), I encourage you to do the former. For this reason, only a limited number of coursepacks has been ordered in advance; if they are no longer in stock, you can order one on a "raincheck" basis.

At times you may be asked to consult or make your own copy from a book on reserve.

You must have your own copy of all the texts to be discussed--with the same pagination as the edition selected for the class--whether in book or xeroxed form, and be prepared to refer to specific passages in class.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Text Preparations on the reading will be assigned approximately every 1-2 weeks and should be handed in at the end of the class session on the day they are due (no late submissions will be accepted). Their purpose is (1) to encourage you to read carefully and reflect on issues that come up in the reading, so that you are in a position to participate knowledgeably and actively in class; and (2) to give you feedback on your writing and on working with primary texts, in preparation for writing the exam essays/papers for this class. The individual assignments are ungraded. Your overall grade for these assignments will be based primarily on whether you completed all of them in a way that reflects attentive and thoughtful reading. Please keep all the assignments that are returned to you--with or without comments--for your reference and in case I ask to see them again later in the term.

In preparing this and other written assignments, you are encouraged to use the resources of the Writing Clinic at the Center for Student Development.

Attendance is mandatory, since participating in in-class work is crucial to successful completion of this course. Participation includes: reading the material carefully ahead of time and raising points and questions about it in class, taking part in in-class group assignments, communicating with the instructor and TA outside of class, participating in online discussions via the WebCT site etc. (If you need to be absent from a class session, please notify one of us, preferably by e-mail, and be sure to ask one a classmate to fill you in on what you missed.)

Depending on the number of people taking this class, there will be a Midterm Paper and a Final Paper, each 5-7 pages in length.

Grades are based on Text Preparations (10% for the first 3; 15% for the remaining 2 or 3, for a total of 25%), Attendance/ Participation (20%), Midterm Paper (25%), Final Paper (30%). Failure to submit either of the two papers, or 4 unexcused absences from class, constitute sufficient grounds for earning an "F" in the class. Papers handed in late are subject to grade reduction.

McMaster University has a strict policy concerning Academic Integrity: "Academic dishonesty consists of misrepresentation by deception or by other fraudulent means and can result in serious consequences, e.g., the grade of zero on an assignment, loss of credit with a notation on the transcript (notation reads: "Grade of F assigned for academic dishonesty"), and/or suspension or expulsion from the university.

It is your responsibility to understand what constitutes academic dishonesty. For information on the various kinds of academic dishonesty please refer to the Academic Integrity Policy, specifically Appendix 3.

The following illustrates only three forms of academic dishonesty: 1. Plagiarism, e.g., the submission of work that is not one's own or for which other credit has been obtained. 2. Improper collaboration in group work. 3. Copying or using unauthorized aids in tests and examinations."

Please let me know if you have any questions on how this policy applies to your work for this course.

You are advised to retain copies of any written work you submit for this class, and all your research notes, until you have received an official grade.

SEPTEMBER 15

Informal informational session; no regular class due to Rosh HaShanah. (Meeting to be rescheduled for week of September 27 or October 4.)

If you are unable to attend, please complete this information form, and either e-mail it to me or bring it to class on September 22.

SEPTEMBER 22

Introduction: Judaism and Philosophy

Ze'ev Levy, "The Nature of Modern Jewish Philosophy," in The History of Jewish Philosophy [Coursepack 2/book on reserve]

SEPTEMBER 29

Historical Background: Jews and Germans

Text Preparation 1 due in class.

Gershom Scholem, "Against the Myth of the German-Jewish Dialogue" (1964); "Once More: The German-Jewish Dialogue" (1965); "Jews and Germans" (1966) in On Jews and Judaism in Crisis [Coursepack 2/book on reserve]

Michael A. Meyer, "The German Jews: Some Perspectives on Their History" (1990) from Alan L. Berger (ed.), Judaism in the Modern World [Coursepack 2/book on reserve]

George L. Mosse, chap. 1 from German Jews Beyond Judaism (1985) [Coursepack 2/book on reserve, plus additional handout for pp. 83-87, containing the footnotes]

Supplementary: Michael A. Meyer, chap. 2 from Response to Modernity. A History of the Reform Movement in Judaism (1988) [book on reserve]

MAKE-UP SESSION: OCTOBER 4, University Hall 122, 5:30-7:00 p.m.

Hermann Cohen (1842-1918)

Text Preparation 2.1 due in class from Group 1

Religion of Reason Out of the Sources of Judaism (1919): "Introduction" (pp. 1-34), chap. 4: 71-79, 82-84; chap. 5: 85-93 [Coursepack 1/book available for purchase/on reserve]

Hermann Cohen chronology [Coursepack 2/handout]

Supplementary:

Samuel Hugo Bergman, "Hermann Cohen," in Faith and Reason [book on reserve]
Michael Zank, "Cohen, Hermann (1842-1918)," in Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy [online/Mills Reference]
Kenneth Seeskin, "How To Read Religion of Reason" in Cohen, Religion of Reason, 2nd ed. (Scholars Press, 1995) [purchase book or consult on reserve]
Genesis 1-2 (cited in Cohen, Religion of Reason, chap. 5, pp. 85-86).

OCTOBER 6

Hermann Cohen, cont'd

Text Preparation 2.2 due in class from Group 2

Hermann Cohen, excerpts from "Affinities between Kant and Judaism" (1910) [Coursepack 2/handout on DH office door]

Religion of Reason, chapter 13, pp. 236-68 and chapter 14, pp. 289-95 [Coursepack 1 (ch. 13 to p. 249) plus handout (ch. 13: 250-68 and ch. 14)/purchase book/book on reserve]

Supplementary: Micha Brumlik, "1915: In Deutschtum und Judentum Hermann Cohen applies neo-Kantian philosophy to the German Jewish Question," The Yale Companion to Jewish Writing and Thought in German Culture, 1096-1996 [book on reserve]

OCTOBER 13

Hermann Cohen, cont'd:

wrap-up Cohen

no Text Preparation due today

OCTOBER 20

Martin Buber (1878-1965)

Text Preparation 3.1 due in class from Group 1

Midterm Paper assignment posted - papers due Monday, November 8. See also Tips for Writing an Effective Paper.

I and Thou (1923): First Part: all (but skim 67-73) [purchase book/book on reserve]

Martin Buber chronology [Coursepack 2/handout]

Supplementary:

Tamra Wright, "Buber, Martin." Article in Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy (1998) [online/Mills Reference]

Mark Gelber, "1916. The first issue of Martin Buber's German-Jewish journal Der Jude appears" from Yale Companion to Jewish Writing and Thought in German Culture, 1096-1996 (1997) [book on reserve]

Gershom Scholem, "Martin Buber's Conception of Judaism," in On Jews and Judaism in Crisis (1966) [book on reserve]

See also the entries on Martin Buber in the "Resources and Links" for this course.

General Background for Buber and Rosenzweig:

From Michael A. Meyer/Michael Brenner (eds.), German-Jewish History in Modern Times, vol. 3: Integration in Dispute, 1871-1918 [book on reserve]:

Paul Mendes-Flohr, chap. 11: "New Trends in Jewish Thought" (pp. 336-59) especially sec. 2: "Jewish Religiosity Redefined" (pp. 348-55), which includes a discussion of Buber's early career.

From Michael A. Meyer/Michael Brenner (eds.), German-Jewish History in Modern Times, vol. 4: Renewal and Destruction, 1918-1945 [book on reserve]:

Paul Mendes-Flohr, "Introduction" (pp. 1-4)

-----, chap. 6: "Jewish Cultural and Spiritual Life" (pp. 127-56), especially pp. 132-48 on Rosenzweig and Buber

-----, chap. 7: "Between Germanism and Judaism, Christians and Jews" (pp. 157-69).

OCTOBER 27

Martin Buber, cont'd

Text Preparation 3.2 due in class from Group 2

I and Thou: Second Part, pp. 100-110; Third Part: all (but skim 131-43) [purchase book/book on reserve]

NOVEMBER 3

Martin Buber, cont'd

Optional Text Preparation 4 due in class from anyone who would like to make up a missed assignment or would like to complete 6 assignments (rather than 5) toward the Text Preparation grade.

finish Buber:

Eclipse of God (1952): "Religion and Philosophy," pp. 27-46 [book available for purchase/on reserve]

see also my list of Errata for this translation

Grade for first three Text Preparations to be communicated this week. (Drop deadline is November 7.)

NOVEMBER 8 - Midterm paper due

NOVEMBER 10

Franz Rosenzweig (1889-1929)

Text Preparation 5.1 due in class from Group 1

"The New Thinking" (1925) in Philosophical and Theological Writings [purchase book/book on reserve]

see also my list of Errata for this translation (to be continued)

The Star of Redemption (1921) [book available for purchase/on reserve], Introduction, pp. 3-9 (overview of section headings/marginal titles)

Arnold Betz, Franz Rosenzweig. His Life and Works. (Exhibit and Essay) [Website at the Divinity Library, Vanderbilt University]

Franz Rosenzweig chronology [Coursepack 2/handout]

Supplementary Material on Rosenzweig's Philosophy and Life:

Nahum Glatzer, "Introduction," Franz Rosenzweig (1953) [book on reserve]
Martin Jay, "1920: The Free Jewish School is founded in Frankfurt..." from The Yale Companion (1997) [book on reserve]

NOVEMBER 17

Franz Rosenzweig, cont'd

Text Preparation 5.2 due in class from Group 2

Final Paper Assignment. See also Tips for Writing an Effective Paper.

conclude discussion of "The New Thinking."

The Star of Redemption (1921), Introduction, pp. 9-22 (overview of section headings/marginal titles) and Part 3, Book 1, pp. 298-335 (overview)

NOVEMBER 24

Franz Rosenzweig, cont'd

Text Preparation 6.1 due in class November 24.

conclude discussion of Part III, Book 1 of the Star of Redemption

"Of Bildung There Is No End" (1920), trans. Michael Zank, pp. 229-39 (notes on 247-50) in Textual Reasonings. Jewish Philosophy and Text Study at the End of the Twentieth Century (2002), ed. Peter Ochs [Coursepack 2/book on reserve - see Michael Zank, "Franz Rosenzweig, the 1920s and the <email> moment of textual reasoning"]

NOVEMBER 29 - Final Paper Topic Proposal due.

DECEMBER 1

Emmanuel Levinas (1905-1995)

Text Preparation 6.2 due in class December 1.

Last day to get approval on your final paper topic.

Ethics & Infinity. Conversations with Philippe Nemo (1982),

- pay particular attention to chaps. chaps. 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and skip chap. 5: "Love and Filiation" [purchase book]

~~"Dialogue" with Richard Kearney (1981), from Kearney, Dialogues with Contemporary Continental Thinkers [Coursepack 2/book on reserve]~~

"Apropos of Buber" (1982) in Outside the Subject [Coursepack 2/book available for purchase/on reserve]

Emmanuel Levinas chronology [Coursepack 2]

Dana Hollander, "Levinas, Emmanuel," from The Johns Hopkins Guide to Literary Theory and Criticism, 2nd ed., forthcoming 2005. [handout]

Supplementary:

Adriaan Peperzak, To the Other. An Introduction to the Philosophy of Emmanuel Levinas (1993) [book available for purchase/on reserve]

Robert Bernasconi, "Levinas, Emmanuel" in Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy (1998) [online/Mills Reference]

REMOVED FROM SCHEDULE:

Emmanuel Levinas, cont'd

~~"The Temptation of Temptation" (1964) in Nine Talmudic Readings [Coursepack 2/book available for purchase/on reserve]~~

~~"Revelation in the Jewish Tradition" (1977) in Beyond the Verse [Coursepack 2/book on reserve]~~

~~Supplementary:~~

~~Annette Aronowicz, "Translator's Introduction" to Levinas, Nine Talmudic Readings (1990) [book available for purchase/on reserve]~~

-----, "Emmanuel Levinas's Talmudic Commentaries: The Relation of the Jewish Tradition to the Non-Jewish World," from Dorff/Newman (eds.), Contemporary Jewish Ethics and Morality. A Reader (1995) [book on reserve]

FINAL PAPER due December 8.

Background image is from the cover of Joachim Prinz, Illustrierte Jüdische Geschichte (Berlin: Brandus'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, 1930), courtesy of Arnd Wedemeyer.