JWC2040

Judaism and Modernity ( 6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL)

Leader: Nathan Wolski and Michael Fagenblatt

Offered:
Not offered in 2006.

Synopsis: This survey course examines literary, philosophical and historical fragments which encapsulate the encounter between Judaism and modernity. It begins with an examination of the influence of Kabbalah on several modern Jewish writers such as Franz Kafka, Walter Benjamin and Harold Bloom. It then investigates the exchange between Jewish philosophy and contemporary Western philosophy through the works of Martin Buber and Emmanuel Levinas. Finally, the impact of the Holocaust upon Jewish and Western thought will be looked at through the philosophy of Emil Fackenheim.

Assessment: Essay (2000 words): 44% + Tutorial presentation (500 words): 12% + Examination (2 hours): 44%

Contact Hours: 2 x 1 hour lectures per week and 1 x 1 hour tutorial per fortnight

Prohibitions: JWC3040, CLS2045, CLS3045