Absurdity and Meaning in Contemporary Philosophy and Jewish Thought

Alan L. Mittleman (The Jewish Theological Seminary of America)

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English

Cambridge University Press
02 November 2023

Philosophy; Judaism: sacred texts; Judaism: theology; Jewish studies

There is a lively discussion in contemporary philosophy that explores the meaning of life or, more modestly, meaning in life. Philosophers, for the most part, assume that religion has little to contribute to this inquiry. They believe that the Western religions, such as Judaism, have doctrinaire beliefs which have become implausible and can no longer satisfy the search for meaning. In this book, Alan L. Mittleman argues that this view is misconceived. He offers a presentation of core Jewish beliefs by using classical and contemporary texts that address the question of the meaning of life in a philosophical spirit. That spirit includes profound self-questioning and self-criticism. Such beliefs are not doctrinaire: Jewish sources, such as the biblical Book of Ecclesiastes, are, in fact, open to an absurdist reading. Mittleman demonstrates that both philosophy and Judaism are prone to ineliminable doubts and perplexities. Far from pre-empting a conversation, they promote honest dialogue.

By: Alan L. Mittleman (The Jewish Theological Seminary of America)
Imprint: Cambridge University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Weight: 546g
ISBN: 9781009098267
ISBN 10: 1009098268
Pages: 300
Publication Date: 02 November 2023
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Introduction; 1. The question of the meaning of life; 2. Creation; 3. Revelation; 4. Redemption; Conclusion.

Alan L. Mittleman is Aaron Rabinowitz and Simon H. Rifkind Emeritus Professor of Jewish Philosophy at The Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He is the author of Does Judaism Condone Violence? Holiness and Ethics in the Jewish Tradition (Princeton University Press, 2018) and Holiness in Jewish Thought (Oxford University Press, 2018).