Audio Roundup Special: Rav Soloveitchik 2
by Joel Rich
A Jewish Philosophy of Man
A Lecture Series by Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik
NOTE: . Unfortunately, although the memoranda indicate a total of 12 lectures, at this time I have only been able to find and reconstruct the first 8 of those lectures. Any information about the final 4 lectures would be appreciated, as I hope that the entire series will eventually come to light.
https://traditiononline.org/jpm-lecture-1-audio/
Lecture 1: Introduction to the Jewish Philosophy of Man
R ybs shares his religious experience of Judaism and compares it with other articulations of religious philosophy. Religious man seeks knowledge – who is man, what should he do (especially in relation to HKBH)?
He oscillates between resignation and joy. HKBH is both close (emotionally) and distant (intellectually). Lots of dialectics!
https://traditiononline.org/jpm-lecture-2-audio/
Lecture 2: Methodology for a Jewish Religious Anthropology, from Metaphysical to Practical
Judaism is about ontology not theology. Homo religoso answers the question “where do you march”. We must develop categories and an anthropology of religious experiences. Our religious experience is highly personal. Our inner feelings drive emotional acts based on our cognitive experience (intellect and heart). Halacha applies to the heart as well as the mind.
https://traditiononline.org/jpm-lecture-3-audio/
Lecture 3: Three Approaches to Man
How did biblical classical and scientific (rational) men look at “man”? The first two saw man as uniquely different from animal/plant life with his own autonomy, the latter as just an advanced form of animal.
Judaism saw this autonomy as including a requirement to self-realize an image of god. Classical man only valued the individual by his contribution to society (no intrinsic worth). For them society owes the individual nothing, pragmatism rules rather than goodness.
https://traditiononline.org/jpm-lecture-4-audio/
Lecture 4: Judaism’s View of Man as a Lonely Being
In non-jewish philosophy, there’s either a total focus on the individual (total autonomy = western liberal thought) or the community (all for the whole = marxism). Jewish philosophy reflects both and sees man as a “lonely” individual, single and singular (like HKBH being echad = not like us). Individual man searches for god, both are solitary. Prayer, as a dialog, relieves this loneliness.
https://traditiononline.org/jpm-lecture-5/
Lecture 5: The Dialectical Approach to the Individual and the Community
The two creation stories reflect first the dialect of the lonely individual and then the union with another (also a metaphor for man and HKBH). Judaism idealizes anonymity.
https://traditiononline.org/jpm-lecture-6-audio/
Lecture 6: Judaism’s Glorification of the Anonymous Person
Judaism values anonymous man not based on his objective contribution but on his subjective experience (who can say whose blood is redder). Our social ethic is one of human dignity and each individual has a right to dignity.
Alone is being only me, unique. Loneliness is being disillusioned among equals because you can’t give over your message to them. At some point we believe everyone must be defeated (it’s one part of a dialectic).
https://traditiononline.org/jpm-lecture-7-audio/
Lecture 7: Prophetic Loneliness as the Solution to the Problem of Jewish Loneliness
Prophetic loneliness (and temporary withdrawal) was exhibited by Avraham and Mosh when others weren’t ready to hear their message. It is a dialectic movement involving the individual and the surrounding society.
Fate is associated with loneliness, destiny with aloneness. The state of israel represents a choice-will be choose destiny over fate, will we be a community of the committed?
https://traditiononline.org/jpm-lecture-8-audio/
Lecture 8: The Content of the Covenant of Egypt – The Jewish Existential Community
All jews are prophets with a burden (masa). There were two covenants, mitzraim and sinai. Brit mitzaim made us an am which is a community of responsibilities (to the individual and to the group). Tzedakah demonstrates a legally enforceable awareness of togetherness and responsibility for our brothers based on brit mitzraim.