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The pale god : Israeli secularism and Spinoza's philosophy of culture / Gideon Katz ; translated by Miriam Ron and Jacky Feldman.

By: Contributor(s): Material type: TextTextLanguage: English Original language: Hebrew Series: Israel (Boston, Mass.)Publication details: Boston : Academic Studies Press, 2011.Description: 1 online resource (vi, 214 pages)Content type:
Media type:
Carrier type:
ISBN:
  • 9781618110787
  • 1618110780
  • 1936235382
  • 9781936235384
Subject(s): Additional physical formats: No title; No titleDDC classification:
  • 296.37 22
LOC classification:
  • B3998 .K3813 2011eb
Other classification:
  • online - EBSCO
Online resources:
Contents:
Contents -- Introduction -- 1 Three Options for Secularism in Israel -- 2 Why Spinoza? -- 3 Imagination and the Masses: An Outline of the Object of Politics -- 4 Political Secularism -- 5 The Role of the Philosopher in His Society in Times of Secularization -- 6 Traditionalism as a Secular Option in Israel -- Conclusion -- Bibliorgaphy -- Index
Summary: The Pale God examines the relationship between secularism and religious tradition. It begins with a description of the secular options as expressed by Israeli intellectuals, and describes how these options have led to a dead end. A new option must be sought, and one of the key sources for this option is the works of Spinoza. The author explains that unlike Nietzsche, who discussed "the death of God," Spinoza tried to undermine the authority of religious virtuosos and establish the image of a rational "Pale God." Such changes could channel religious tradition to the basic principles of secular political rule. The author demonstrates that the secular option is inherent in Israeli society, fits the type of secularism that Zionism instilled in the Jewish people, and complements the traditional trends deeply rooted in that society.
Holdings
Item type Current library Call number URL Status Notes Barcode
eBook eBook Biblioteca "Angelicum" Pont. Univ. S.Tommaso d'Aquino Nuvola online online - EBSCO (Browse shelf(Opens below)) Online access Not for loan (Accesso limitato) Accesso per gli utenti autorizzati / Access for authorized users (ebsco)500812

Includes bibliographical references and index.

In English; occasional phrases in Hebrew with English translations.

Contents -- Introduction -- 1 Three Options for Secularism in Israel -- 2 Why Spinoza? -- 3 Imagination and the Masses: An Outline of the Object of Politics -- 4 Political Secularism -- 5 The Role of the Philosopher in His Society in Times of Secularization -- 6 Traditionalism as a Secular Option in Israel -- Conclusion -- Bibliorgaphy -- Index

The Pale God examines the relationship between secularism and religious tradition. It begins with a description of the secular options as expressed by Israeli intellectuals, and describes how these options have led to a dead end. A new option must be sought, and one of the key sources for this option is the works of Spinoza. The author explains that unlike Nietzsche, who discussed "the death of God," Spinoza tried to undermine the authority of religious virtuosos and establish the image of a rational "Pale God." Such changes could channel religious tradition to the basic principles of secular political rule. The author demonstrates that the secular option is inherent in Israeli society, fits the type of secularism that Zionism instilled in the Jewish people, and complements the traditional trends deeply rooted in that society.