The Pale God: Israeli Secularism and Spinoza's Philosophy of Culture

Gideon Katz

Published by Academic Studies Press 2011

The Pale God

Israeli Secularism and Spinoza's Philosophy of Culture

Gideon Katz

In the series Israel: Society, Culture, and History

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781618110787

Overview
Contents

About this book

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.

Author / Editor information

Gideon Katz (Ph.D. Haifa University) is a lecturer at the Ben-Gurion Research Institute, Ben-Gurion University in the Negev. His research focuses on Israeli culture, Jewish Thought and Ancient Philosophy. He is the author of the book The Soul is Big, Life is Small: The Duality of the Soul According to Plato's Phaedo and Republic (Hebrew University Press, 2005), and co-editor of Iyunim bitkumat yisrael.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
Chapter 1: Three Options for Secularism in Israel Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	7
Chapter 2: Why Spinoza? Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	53
Chapter 3: Imagination and the Masses: An Outline of the Object of Politics Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	67
Chapter 4: Political Secularism Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	91
Chapter 5: The Role of the Philosopher in His Society in Times of Secularization Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	141
Chapter 6: Traditionalism as an Optional Form of Secularism in Israel Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	167
Conclusion Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	189
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	201
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	209

Language: English
Publisher: Academic Studies Press
Audience: Professional and scholarly;General/trade;
Pages
- Main content: 222

eBook

Published: August 1, 2011
ISBN: 9781618110787