PHILOSOPHY 3575: JUDAIC RELIGION AND PHILOSOPHY

Professor Martin D. Yaffe MWF 1:00-1:50
Office Hours: MWF 12:00-1:00 ENV 190 
Office: ENV 310N

I. PURPOSE OF THE COURSE

The subject-matter of this course is Judaism as found both in the Hebrew Bible (or “Old Testament”) and in post-biblical Jewish life and thought. Our aim is to understand what it says about God and human life. Our approach is to probe the views of various thoughtful Jews who are led by both religious and intellectual concerns to raise larger questions about Judaism’s practical and philosophical significance nowadays. Whatever their differences among themselves and with non-Jews, all Jews ultimately trace their way of life as Jews to the Bible, one of the twin ancient roots of our modern American way of life as well (the other being Greek philosophy). Our motive for studying Judaism carefully in this course, whether we are Jewish or not, is thus self-understanding.

In the first half of the course, we shall look at how a number of our contemporaries are led into larger questions while seeking to defend Judaism against the widespread opinion that the Bible (notably Genesis 1:26-28) is somehow the cause of our current environmental crisis. Subsequently, we shall consider the life and thought of the ex-Jew Benedict Spinoza (1632-77), whose Theologico-Political Treatise (1670) may be said to be the philosophical founding-document of modern Judaism, by virtue of its also being the founding-document of both modern biblical criticism and modern liberal democracy. Finally, we shall read selected essays on Judaism by Leo Strauss (1899-1973), whose scholarly life’s work was to explore in great depth not only the important differences between ancient and modern thought (including Jewish thought) but also the ongoing tension between the Bible and philosophy or science.

This course emphasizes careful reading, writing, and thinking. Give-and-take class discussion is encouraged.


II. REQUIRED TEXTS

1. Judaism and Environmental Ethics: A Reader. Edited by Martin D. Yaffe. Lanham, Md.: Lexington Books, 2001.

2. Jacobs, Louis. A Concise Companion to the Jewish Religion. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999.

3. Spinoza, Benedict. Theologico-Political Treatise. Translated by Martin D. Yaffe.
    --bound typescript to be made available at Kendall Hall Copy Center

4. Strauss, Leo. Jewish Philosophy and the Crisis of Modernity: Essays and Lectures in Modern Jewish Thought. Edited by Kenneth Hart Green. Albany, N.Y.: SUNY Press, 1997.

5. Any reliable translation of the Hebrew Bible (a.k.a. “Old Testament”).


III. COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1. Daily (almost) pop quizzes or mini-essays (approximately one-third of course of grade)

2. Mid-term essay examination (approximately one-third of course grade)

3. Final essay examination (approximately one-third of course grade)

4. Opportunities for extra consideration: oral presentations, written essays, etc.

5. Regular and punctual class attendance is expected. Absentees may be penalized. 


IV. RULES FOR WRITTEN WORK

1. All exams or written assignments must be typed in standard 12-point font, with a separate title-page clearly listing the course number and title, instructor, date, name of assignment, and student's name and number. 

2. Use one surface of a page only. 

3. Leave one-inch margins on all sides of each page for comments.

4. Double-space everything.

5. Spelling counts. So does grammar. Use a dictionary and a Harbrace Handbook for authoritative guidance.

6. Footnote citations, etc., are usually not necessary in exams, but where they are made to works that have standard reference formats, you must use those formats exclusively. (See also Rule 7, below.)

7. Please consult the University of North Texas Student Guidebook's statement on academic dishonesty (page 27, column 1).

8. Carelessness or sloppiness counts against you.

9. Assignments that are seriously deficient in any of the aforementioned ways may be returned with a grade of F or D, at the instructor’s discretion, with the suggestion that they be revised for an improved grade. They will then be treated as late submissions. (See Rule 10, below.)

10. Every effort will be made to return written assignments by the next class period. Late submissions will be accepted if they are handed in before the due date for the next assignment, but they will then be graded without comments and made available at the instructor’s office at his convenience. Responsibility for retrieving late submissions, etc., rests entirely with the student.

11. Generally speaking, the instructor does not return phone calls. Please feel free, however, to leave a clear and concise message at 940-565-2259 (voicemail) or yaffe@unt.edu (e- mail). Every effort will be made to answer e-mail messages promptly.