Description: Analytic philosophy of religion is a vibrant area of inquiry, but it has generally focused on generic forms of theism or on Christianity. David Shatz here offers a new and fresh approach to the field in a wide-ranging and engaging introduction to the analytic philosophy of religion from the perspective of Judaism. Exploring classical Jewish texts about philosophical topics in light of the concepts and arguments at the heart of analytic philosophy, he demonstrates how each tradition illuminates the other, yielding a deeper understanding of both Jewish sources and general philosophical issues. Shatz also advances growing efforts to imagine Jewish philosophy not only as an engrossing, invaluable part of Jewish intellectual history, but also as a creative, constructive enterprise that mines the methods and literature of contemporary philosophy. His book offers new pathways to think deeply about God, evil, morality, freedom, ethics, and religious diversity, among other topics.
Brief description: David Shatz is the Ronald P. Stanton University of Philosophy, Ethics, and Religious Thought at Yeshiva University in New York. He is the author of Jewish Thought in Dialogue (2010), editor of Philosophy and Faith (2001), and is included in Brill's Library of Contemporary Jewish Philosophers series.
Review Quotes: 'In this outstanding book, with wit and clarity, David Shatz uses his impressive erudition and philosophical abilities to deepen our understanding of the major issues in philosophy of religion, from the nature of God to the problem of evil, by bringing to bear on them the riches of the Jewish tradition.' Eleonore Stump, Robert J. Henle Professor of Philosophy, Saint Louis University