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Explores Jewish aspects of Spinoza's philosophy from a wide variety of perspectives.
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JEWISH THEMES IN SPINOZA’S PHILOSOPHY SUNY series in Jewish Philosophy Kenneth Seeskin, editor Jewish Themes in Spinoza’s Philosophy EDITED BY Heidi M. Ravven AND Lenn E. Goodman STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK PRESS Published by State University of New York Press, Albany © 2002 State University of New York All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission. No part of this book may be stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior permission in writing of the publisher. For information, address State University of New York Press, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany, NY 12207 Production by Cathleen Collins Marketing by Michael Campochiaro Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Jewish themes in Spinoza’s philosophy / edited by Heidi M. Ravven and Lenn E. Goodman. p. cm. — (SUNY series in Jewish philosophy) Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-7914-5309-X (alk. paper) — ISBN 0-7914-5310-3 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Spinoza, Benedictus de, 1632–1677. 2. Philosophy, Jewish. I. Ravven, Heidi M., 1952– II. Goodman, Lenn Evan, 1944– III. Series. B3999.J8 J48 2002 199'.492—dc21 2001034412 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Dedicated to lovers of Spinoza everywhere. We understand what our salvation or blessedness or freedom consists in, namely, in the constant and eternal love towards God, that is, in God’s love toward humanity. This love or blessedness is called glory in the Holy Scriptures, and rightly so. . . . For it can properly be called spiritual contentment. —Ethics, VP36S, (as translated by Samuel Shirley, emended slightly) This page intentionally left blank. Contents Abbreviations ix PART I Laying the Groundwork 1. Introduction Heidi M. Ravven and Lenn E. Goodman 3 2. What Does Spinoza’s Ethics Contribute to Jewish Philosophy? 17 Lenn E. Goodman PART II Metaphysics 3. Love of God in Spinoza 93 Lee C. Rice 4. Spinoza’s Metaphysical Hebraism 107 Warren Zev Harvey 5. Maimonides, Spinoza, and the Problem of Creation Kenneth Seeskin 115 6. “That Hebrew Word”: Spinoza and the Concept of the Shekhinah 131 Warren Montag PART III Theology and Epistemology 7. Maimonides, Spinoza, and the Book of Job 147 Edwin M. Curley vii viii Contents 8. Spinoza’s Rupture with Tradition—His Hints of a Jewish Modernity 187 Heidi M. Ravven 9. Why Spinoza Chose the Hebrews: The Exemplary Function of Prophecy in the Theological-Political Treatise 225 Michael A. Rosenthal PART IV The Historical Setting 10. Spinoza’s Excommunication Richard H. Popkin 263 About the Contributors Index 281 283 Abbreviations G I - IV Spinoza Opera, ed. C Gebhardt, 4 vols. (Heidelberg: Carl Winter, 1925 (reprinted 1972 vols. I to IV, with a supplement, vol. V, 1987). References are given as G I to G IV, with page and line. G II 22/10 refers to volume II, page 22, line 10. Van Vloten and Land Benedicti de Spinoza opera quotquot reperta sunt. 3rd ed. 4 vols. (The Hague: M. Nijhoff, 1913 and 1914) References are by volume and page number: e.g., Van Vloten and Land, vol. 1: 268. E References to the Ethics are in the format: e.g., EIIP13S1 means Ethics Part II, Proposition 13, first Scholium. A = Axiom, D = definition, dem = demonstration, C = corollary, Pref = P