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Abraham Joshua Heschel Between Philosoph

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Was Abraham Joshua Heschel primarily a systematic philosopher or a charismatic religious leader? This question has sparked significant scholarly debate about his intellectual legacy. Through comparative analysis of Ruth Marcus Goodhill's anthology "The Wisdom of Heschel" and Fritz Rothschild's earlier collection, two fundamental problems emerge with portraying Heschel merely as an inspirational figure. First, extracting isolated aphorisms obscures the systematic development and repetition of key concepts throughout his works, particularly his sustained examination of human needs. Second, removing statements from their philosophical context creates a misleading impression of dogmatism rather than revealing Heschel's careful responses to specific opponents like biblical reductionists. While Goodhill's anthology effectively captures Heschel's magnetic personality and provides an accessible introduction, it ultimately undermines appreciation of his intellectual rigor. Critical analysis demonstrates that Heschel's philosophical system possesses a structural coherence demanding serious scholarly attention beyond his undeniable inspirational qualities. A more nuanced interpretation must recognize both his personal charisma and his substantive contributions to philosophical thought.

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    Published 1976

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  • Publication Credits

    S Breslauer