Jewish Philosophy and Jewish Mysticism (6 points)
(ARTS)
Leader: Michael Fagenblat and Nathan Wolski
Offered:
Clayton First semester 2004 (Day)
Clayton First semester 2005 (Day)
Synopsis:
Objectives: Upon successful completion of this unit students will: 1. Understand and explain the central ideas and the intellectual context of the medieval renaissance in Jewish philosophy and mysticism. 2. Analyse, describe, differentiate and trace the influences between the basic ideas of Maimonidean rationalism and the mysticism of the early Kabbalah. 3. Read and analyse selected texts from Maimonides' The Guide of the Perplexed and his Code of Jewish Law and selected texts from The Zohar and the Gates of Light. 4. Be familiar with contemporary scholarly debates concerning The Guide and The Zohar. In addition, third-year students will be expected to demonstrate an ability to: 5. Understand the influence between the medieval texts we examine and the Midrashic literature which it draws upon. 6. Apply the reading and interpretative skills they have learned to unseen texts of the authors to be studied. 7. Formulate and develop their own research question.
Assessment: Essay (2500 words): 50% + Exam (1 hour): 20% + Seminar presentation (1000 words): 20% + Tutorial preparation: 10%
Contact Hours: 2.5 hours (1 x 1 hour lecture and 1 x 1.5 hour tutorial) per week
Prohibitions: JWC2280
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