Autonomy and Judaism: The Individual and Community in Jewish Philosophical Thought

Preface

Preface This volume began life as a set of working papers presented at the tenth annual conference of the Academy for Jewish Philosophy. The conference, "Autonomy and Judaism," was held June 4-5,1989 in Philadelphia at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and at Temple University. In light of the discussion at the meetings, all the essays included herein have been revised. None has been published previously . The editor is grateful to those individuals who, in one way or another, are particularly responsible for the appearance of this volume , namely, Norbert Samuelson, Kenneth Seeskin and Jacob Staub. In addition, all the participants at the conference owe a debt of gratitude to the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and to Temple University for the excellent facilities which they provided. One debt, alas, cannot be repaid, at least now. It is owed to Steven Schwarzschild, a founding member of the Academy, in gratitude for his sustained forthrightness, collegiality and friendship. It is entirely fitting that this volume, Autonomy and Judaism, be dedicated to his memory. ...