131-449 Philosophies of Jewish History

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Subject Description

A study of the various ways in which Jews throughout the ages have attempted to elucidate the meaning of their historical experience. Examples of historical writing from the Bible to the present will be explored, including the writings on history of Walter Benjamin and Sigmund Freud. Themes to be discussed include history and ideology, questions of causality and periodisation in Jewish history, teleology and messianic perspectives, interpretations of religion, nationality and culture in Jewish historiography. to explore Jewish perspectives on the writing of history and to understand how the different traditions of Jewish historiography evolved; to appreciate the impact of modernity on Jewish historical writing.

Assessment

Written work amounting to no more than 6000 words.