Description:
The book is divided into three sections. The first provides a general historical overview for the Jewish thought that follows. The second summarizes the variety of basic kinds of popular, positive Jewish commitment in the twentieth century. The third and major section summarizes the basic thought of those modern Jewish philosophers whose thought is technically the best and/or the most influential in Jewish intellectual circles. The Jewish philosophers covered include Spinoza, Mendelssohn, Hermann Cohen, Martin Buber, Franz Rosenzweig, Mordecai Kaplan, and Emil Fackenheim.
The text includes summaries and a selected bibliography of primary and secondary sources.
Brief description: Norbert M. Samuelson is Professor of Religion at Temple University.
Review Quotes:
"It delivers exactly what it promises-an introduction to a mature study of Jewish thought from the expulsion from Spain in 1492 up to the 1980s. The thought of major thinkers is presented clearly in its historical context. There are a number of good insights and stimulating questions. This book could become the standard text for courses in modern Jewish thought." - Kenneth Seeskin, Northwestern University