Overview

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.

Full Product Details

Author:   David Shatz (Yeshiva University, New York)
Publisher:   Cambridge University Press
Imprint:   Cambridge University Press
Weight:   0.250kg
ISBN:  

9781009444828

ISBN 10:   1009444824
Pages:   348
Publication Date:   31 December 2025
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Forthcoming
Availability:   Not yet available, will be POD  
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Table of Contents

Introduction: the varieties of Jewish philosophy; Part I. God: 1. Is perfect being theology an imperfect theology?; 2. Where in the world is God?: nature and divine action; 3. The problem(s) of evil; Part II. Human Beings: 4. Problems of free will: the Bible's near-silence; 5. 'It was not you who sent me here': free will and God's foreordaining of history; 6. How free is the will?: The challenge of scientific determinism; 7. Here today, here tomorrow: death and the afterlife; Part III. God in Relation to Humanity: 8. Divine commands and human morality; 9. One God?: Judaism and religious diversity; Part IV. Faith and Reason: 10. Reason, faith, and the spaces in between; Part V. Concluding Reflections: 11. Features of Jewish philosophy: a closing assessment.

Reviews

'This is a landmark achievement in Jewish philosophy. Characteristically profound and witty, careful and learned, the book no doubt will become a classic of 'analytic' Jewish philosophy. Shatz beautifully demonstrates both how Jewish tradition can enrich contemporary philosophy of religion and what it means to do Jewish philosophy as a constructive enterprise.' Aaron Segal, John and Golda Cohen Chair in Jewish Philosophy, Department of Philosophy, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem 'The depth of Shatz's insight, and his dazzling erudition, ensure that this book is much more than an entry point into the worlds of Jewish philosophy and philosophy of religion. It also marks a substantial and worthy contribution to those fields, one that experts will rightly treasure.' Samuel Lebens, Associate Professor of Philosophy, University of Haifa '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

Author Information

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.

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