Religion or halakha : the philosophy of Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik / / by Dov Schwartz ; translated by Batya Stein.

• Superior document: Supplements to The journal of Jewish thought and philosophy, v. 1
• Author: Schwartz, Dov.
• Year of Publication: 2007
• Language: English
• Series: Supplements to The journal of Jewish thought and philosophy ; v. 1.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (384 p.)
• Notes: Description based upon print version of record.

Joseph B. Soloveitchik’s philosophy plays a significant role in twentieth century Jewish thought. This book focuses on the first stages of Soloveitchik’s philosophy, through a systematic and detailed discussion of his essay Halakhic Man. Schwartz analyzes this essay at three main levels: first, he considers its complex writing style and relates it to Soloveitchik’s aims in the writing of this work. Second, the author compares Halakhic Man to other contemporary writings of Soloveitchik. Third, he lays out the essay’s philosophical background. Through this analysis, Schwartz successfully exposes hidden layers in Halakhic Man, which may not be immediately evident. This book is also available in paperback.

Table of Contents

The opening of Halakhic man : a covert dialogue with homo religiosus -- Homo religiosus: between religion and cognition -- The first paradigm of homo religiosus : Maimonides -- The second paradigm of homo religiosus : Kant -- Halakhic man as cognitive man -- The negation of metaphysics and of the messianic idea -- Mysticism, Kabbalah, and Hasidism -- Halakhic cognition and the norm -- Halakhic man's personality structure -- Religiosity after cognition : all-inclusive consciousness -- Myth as metaphor : halakhic man as a creator of worlds -- Change or interpretation: repentance as creativity -- On providence and prophecy -- Halakhic man after twenty years : what has changed?.