Book contents
- The Philosophy of Emil Fackenheim
- The Philosophy of Emil Fackenheim
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- Introduction The Unending Struggle with Revelation in the Thought of Emil Fackenheim
- 1 What Is Faith?
- 2 Individual versus Collective, Rational versus Mystical
- 3 Revelation as a Possibility
- 4 On Authority, Tradition, and History
- 5 Divine Power versus Human Freedom
- 6 From Presence to History
- 7 Confronting Radical Evil as Rupture
- 8 Diabolical Revelation and the Holocaust
- 9 Negative Absolute and Fragmentary Transcendence
- Conclusion Revelation of the Diabolical Truth in History
- Bibliography
- Index
2 - Individual versus Collective, Rational versus Mystical
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 October 2020
- The Philosophy of Emil Fackenheim
- The Philosophy of Emil Fackenheim
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Epigraph
- Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Abbreviations
- Introduction The Unending Struggle with Revelation in the Thought of Emil Fackenheim
- 1 What Is Faith?
- 2 Individual versus Collective, Rational versus Mystical
- 3 Revelation as a Possibility
- 4 On Authority, Tradition, and History
- 5 Divine Power versus Human Freedom
- 6 From Presence to History
- 7 Confronting Radical Evil as Rupture
- 8 Diabolical Revelation and the Holocaust
- 9 Negative Absolute and Fragmentary Transcendence
- Conclusion Revelation of the Diabolical Truth in History
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
In Fackenheim’s early thought, he embraces an existential basis for faith, viewing religious commitment as primary since commitment cannot be derived from any other source. This includes metaphysics, science, psychology, politics, or any pragmatic consideration, even of a moral nature. Commitment alone, in his theology, is autonomous. It does not require or offer rational or empirical proof. It is an irreducible and unavoidable necessity, but fraught with risk. It gives priority to willing, commitment, and decision: we must all decide what is of “ultimate concern” to us. This “decision of faith” is the only truly unqualified decision we make. Its quality can be judged as to whether it merits such a fundamental status.
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- The Philosophy of Emil FackenheimFrom Revelation to the Holocaust, pp. 61 - 90Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2020