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Weimar and Now: German Cultural Criticism #33
Rosenzweig and Heidegger: Between Judaism and German Philosophy
Franz Rosenzweig (1886-1929) is widely regarded today as one of the most original and intellectually challenging figures within the so-called renaissance of German-Jewish thought in the Weimar period. The architect of a unique kind of existential theology, and an important influence upon such philosophers as Walter Benjamin, Martin Buber, Leo Strauss, and Emmanuel Levinas, Rosenzweig is remembered chiefly as a "Jewish thinker," often to the neglect of his broader philosophical concerns. Cutting across the artificial divide that the traumatic memory of National Socialism has drawn between German and Jewish philosophy, this book seeks to restore Rosenzweig's thought to the German philosophical horizon in which it first took shape. It is the first English-language study to explore Rosenzweig's enduring debt to Hegel's political theory, neo-Kantianism, and life-philosophy; the book also provides a new, systematic reading of Rosenzweig's major work, The Star of Redemption.
Most of all, the book sets out to explore a surprising but deep affinity between Rosenzweig’s thought and that of his contemporary, the German philosopher Martin Heidegger. Resisting both apologetics and condemnation, Gordon suggests that Heidegger’s engagement with Nazism should not obscure the profound and intellectually compelling bond in the once-shared tradition of modern German and Jewish thought. A remarkably lucid discussion of two notably difficult thinkers, this book represents an eloquent attempt to bridge the forced distinction between modern Jewish thought and the history of modern German philosophy—and to show that such a distinction cannot be sustained without doing violence to both.
Most of all, the book sets out to explore a surprising but deep affinity between Rosenzweig’s thought and that of his contemporary, the German philosopher Martin Heidegger. Resisting both apologetics and condemnation, Gordon suggests that Heidegger’s engagement with Nazism should not obscure the profound and intellectually compelling bond in the once-shared tradition of modern German and Jewish thought. A remarkably lucid discussion of two notably difficult thinkers, this book represents an eloquent attempt to bridge the forced distinction between modern Jewish thought and the history of modern German philosophy—and to show that such a distinction cannot be sustained without doing violence to both.
- GenresPhilosophyJudaism
364 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
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About the author
Peter E. Gordon
34 books13 followersaka Peter Eli Gordon
Peter E. Gordon is the Amabel B. James Professor of History, Faculty Affilitate in the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures, and Faculty Affiliate in the Department of Philosophy at Harvard University. He works chiefly on themes in Continental philosophy and social thought in Germany and France in the late-modern era, with an emphasis on critical theory, Western Marxism, the Frankfurt School, phenomenology, and existentialism. Primarily a scholar of modern European social theory, he has published major works on Heidegger, the Frankfurt School, Jürgen Habermas, and Theodor W. Adorno.
Peter E. Gordon is the Amabel B. James Professor of History, Faculty Affilitate in the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures, and Faculty Affiliate in the Department of Philosophy at Harvard University. He works chiefly on themes in Continental philosophy and social thought in Germany and France in the late-modern era, with an emphasis on critical theory, Western Marxism, the Frankfurt School, phenomenology, and existentialism. Primarily a scholar of modern European social theory, he has published major works on Heidegger, the Frankfurt School, Jürgen Habermas, and Theodor W. Adorno.
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September 26, 2009Honestly speaking I find it sooo boring & unfruitful on reading Rosenzweig`s Star of Redemption, for me the language He use is like for His own mind & understanding. [I know Heidegger falls into the same class:]. But this particular book explains the relation between Heidegger`s idea and Rosenzweig`s.
The author tries to paint a picture that Rosenzweig can not just be classified as Jewish thinker but also German`s. Many of his ideas is somewhat similar to Heidegger`s. They had similar Sein und Zeit. I`m curious about this idea, so out of curiosity & a hope that my understanding of Rosenzweig could be improved, I bought this book, though the damage cost is over 4000 Yen [gulp!!:].
The author tries to paint a picture that Rosenzweig can not just be classified as Jewish thinker but also German`s. Many of his ideas is somewhat similar to Heidegger`s. They had similar Sein und Zeit. I`m curious about this idea, so out of curiosity & a hope that my understanding of Rosenzweig could be improved, I bought this book, though the damage cost is over 4000 Yen [gulp!!:].
Displaying 1 of 1 review