Monday, May 16, 2005
(9:48 AM) | Adam Kotsko:
Rosenzweig!
A new translation of Star of Redemption is available. Here is a review:The integrative project — begun in Greek thought, reaching perhaps its apogee in Hegel but resurfacing today in the integral efforts to create "theory of everything," associated with philosopher Ken Wilber — is, invariably, either overly simplistic or very difficult. In the case of Rosenzweig, it's the latter. And that is why no one reads his work, even though they acknowledge that, according to the experts, it's important. Galli's new translation may help somewhat. Certainly, the language is more straightforward, although sometimes, inevitably, the majesty of certain phrases is lost (not unlike the New International Version of the Bible as compared with the King James). And even if Rosenzweig still does not gain a space on every Jewish bookshelf, maybe he'll get his due in the academy as — earlier and more reliably than Heidegger — the true progenitor of postmodern ethics and metaphysics.The author of the review, Jay Michaelson, maintains a site where one can Learn Kabbalah. I provide the link merely for informational purposes; I do not endorse spirituality of any kind.
