Ki volt Spinoza? A 17. század legendás filozófusát éltében ugyan kiátkozták, de amit ma a világról gondolunk, nagyban köszönhetjük neki is. Michael Chighel előadásain mindent megtudunk róla!
(Az angol nyelvű előadásokon a részvétel mindenkinek ingyenes, de regisztrációhoz kötött.
Regisztráció: ITT
Together we're going to read key passages from Baruch Spinoza's Tractatus Theologico-Politicus (1670). This work, with which Spinoza desired to "liberate the individual from bondage to superstition and ecclesiastical authority," is the first great attempt in the modern critique of religion. In it, Spinoza critically analyses the Bible, examines Judaism and Christianity, and makes a case for democracy and freedom of speech as the best political conditions of religion in Europe. Spinoza published the work anonymously, smartly anticipating harsh criticism from religious leaders. And in fact it was one of the reasons that he was officially excommunicated (herem) by the Jewish community in Amsterdam. The text will be read in English translation; with a Hungarian translation also available.
Prof. Chighel is the Dean of the Ashkenazium where he teaches Jewish philosophy, as well as Jewish thought, history and literature in the “aspaklaria” of Jewish philosophizing. For the greater part of his professional life, Prof. Chighel produced Jewish television (1998-2009) and online videos for Chabad.org (2016-20). He has taught philosophy and Jewish studies in Canada at York University, Queen’s University and the University of Waterloo. During 2007-14 he held the Rohr Chair of Jewish Studies at the Lauder Business School in Vienna. Prof. Chighel has published various articles in Jewish philosophy and Ḥasidic Thought, and has translated two books from French. His major publications are: "Kabale. Das Geheimnis des Hebräischen Humanismus im Lichte von Heideggers Denken" (2020) and "Ashkenas. In der deutsch-jüdischen Apokalypse" (2025).
