Reason and Revelation before Historicism: Strauss and Fackenheim PDF
Preview Reason and Revelation before Historicism: Strauss and Fackenheim
REASON AND REVELATION BEFORE HISTORICISM: STRAUSS AND FACKENHEIM This page intentionally left blank SHARON PORTNOFF Reason and Revelation before Historicism Strauss and Fackenheim UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO PRESS Toronto Buffalo London © University of Toronto Press 2011 Toronto Buffalo London www.utppublishing.com Printed in Canada ISBN 978-1-4426-4307-9 Printed on acid-free, 100% post-consumer recycled paper with vegetable-based inks. Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication Portnoff, Sharon Reason and revelation before historicism : Strauss and Fackenheim / Sharon Portnoff. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-4426-4307-9 1. Strauss, Leo. 2. Fackenheim, Emil L., 1916 – . 3. Philosophy and religion. 4. Historicism. 5. Judaism and philosophy. 6. Philosophy, Modern. I. Title. BL51.P67 2011 210 C2011-906382-4 University of Toronto Press acknowledges the financial assistance to its publishing program of the Canada Council for the Arts and the Ontario Arts Council. University of Toronto Press acknowledges the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund for its publishing activities. This book is dedicated to the memory of Laurence Berns, may his memory be for a blessing. Without his generosity and inquisitive mind, this book would not exist. This page intentionally left blank Contents Acknowledgments xi 1 Background and Introduction 3 I. Review of Literature 3 Introduction 3 II. General Background 8 Why Is There a Tension between Philosophy and Revelatory Theology? 8 The Tension between Philosophy and Revelatory Theology in Modern Western Thought 10 Strauss and Fackenheim on the Tension between Philosophy and Revelatory Theology in Modern Western Thought 14 The Tension between Philosophy and Revelation in Jewish Philosophy 16 The Dead End of Resolving Tension 20 Strauss and Fackenheim: Two Options to Restore Reason and Revelation 23 III. Development of Argument in Chapter Form 30 Overview of Book in Chapter Form 30 Strauss and Fackenheim: A Note on Methodology 35 2 Strauss’s Formulation of the Relationship between Reason and Revelation in Modern Thought and His Rejection of a Practical Synthesis 38 I. Strauss on Western Philosophy 38 Introduction 38 viii Contents Strauss on the Ancient Philosophers 41 Strauss on Machiavelli 46 Strauss on Hobbes 52 Strauss on Heidegger 56 II. Strauss on Jewish Philosophy 60 Strauss on the Bible 60 Strauss on Spinoza 65 Strauss on Cohen 72 Strauss on Rosenzweig 75 Conclusion 79 3 Fackenheim’s Formulation of the Relationship between Philosophy and Revelatory Theology in Modern Thought 81 I. Fackenheim on Western Philosophy 81 Introduction 81 Fackenheim on Kant 84 Fackenheim on Hegel 91 Fackenheim on Schelling 107 Fackenheim on Heidegger 111 II. Fackenheim on Jewish Philosophy 121 Fackenheim on the Bible 121 Fackenheim on Spinoza 129 Fackenheim on Rosenzweig 133 Fackenheim on Buber 140 III. Fackenheim’s Synthesis 148 Fackenheim’s Synthesis of Revelatory Religion and Philosophy 148 4 The Problem of Historicism 153 Introduction 153 The Necessity of ‘Openness’ in Philosophic and/or Religious Thought 155 The Problem of Historicism: Strauss’s Return to Natural Right 159 The Problem of Historicism: Fackenheim the Philosopher’s Return to History 172 The Problem of Historicism: Fackenheim the Theologian’s Return to History 194 Conclusion 201 Contents ix 5 Reason and Revelation: Jewish Thought after Strauss and Fackenheim 205 Introduction 205 Strauss: Jerusalem and Athens 209 Fackenheim’s Rejection of the Return to Greek Thought 224 Results from Beginning with Fackenheim’s Position 229 The Present Writer’s Position 234 Notes 241 Bibliography 355 Index 369
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