Julius Guttmann
Encyclopedia
Julius Guttmann born Yitzchak Guttmann (April 15, 1880, Hildesheim
- May 19, 1950, Jerusalem) was a German
-born rabbi
, Jewish theologian, and philosopher of religion.
(1845–1919) while Jakob served as Chief Rabbi
at Hildesheim
during the years 1874-1892, when Hildesheim still had a large Jewish population. Jakob himself published papers on a number of philosophical topics. The family moved to Breslau in 1880.
Julius received his basic training at the Breslau Rabbinical Seminary and the University of Breslau. He was Lecturer at Breslau from 1910–1919, and Lecturer at the Hochschule for the Academic Study of Judaism
(The Reform Seminary) in Berlin
from 1919-1934. At that time, he became Professor of Jewish Philosophy at Hebrew University, a position which he held until his death.
, 1933), translations of which are available in Hebrew, Spanish
, English
, Japanese
, etc. The English title is The Philosophy of Judaism: The History of Jewish Philosophy from Biblical Times to Franz Rosenzweig
sees in this publication "the last product in the direct line of the authentic Judaeo-German 'Science of Judaism'," more commonly known as Wissenschaft des Judentums
. While that movement did not utterly expire with the publication Guttman's work—its spirit living on in the work of G. Scholem and H.A. Wolfson among many others—it is certainly the case that the Wissenschaft movement in Germany had by the 1930s already ceased to thrive.
The original German edition of Philosophie des Judentums ends with Hermann Cohen
, the primary influence on Guttman's own philosophy, while the later Hebrew edition includes Franz Rosenzweig
. It is also notable that Guttman's work excludes major thinkers of the Kabbalistic school, which reflects his own attitude toward Jewish philosophy
(Werblowsky 1964).
Hildesheim
Hildesheim is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located in the district of Hildesheim, about 30 km southeast of Hanover on the banks of the Innerste river, which is a small tributary of the Leine river...
- May 19, 1950, Jerusalem) was a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
-born rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
, Jewish theologian, and philosopher of religion.
Biography
Julius was born to Rabbi Jakob GuttmannJakob Guttmann (rabbi)
----Rabbi Jakob Guttmann was a German Jewish theologian, philosopher of religion .He was the father of Julius Guttmann.- Works :...
(1845–1919) while Jakob served as Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities...
at Hildesheim
Hildesheim
Hildesheim is a city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located in the district of Hildesheim, about 30 km southeast of Hanover on the banks of the Innerste river, which is a small tributary of the Leine river...
during the years 1874-1892, when Hildesheim still had a large Jewish population. Jakob himself published papers on a number of philosophical topics. The family moved to Breslau in 1880.
Julius received his basic training at the Breslau Rabbinical Seminary and the University of Breslau. He was Lecturer at Breslau from 1910–1919, and Lecturer at the Hochschule for the Academic Study of Judaism
Hochschule für die Wissenschaft des Judentums
The Hochschule für die Wissenschaft des Judentums, or Higher Institute for Jewish Studies, was a rabbinical seminary, established in Berlin in 1872 destroyed by the Nazi government of Germany in 1942...
(The Reform Seminary) in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
from 1919-1934. At that time, he became Professor of Jewish Philosophy at Hebrew University, a position which he held until his death.
Works
Guttmann is best known for Die Philosophie des Judentums (ReinhardtReinhardt
Reinhardt may refer to:* Reinhardt University, Waleska, Georgia, USAPeople with the surname Reinhardt:*see Reinhardt People with the given name Reinhardt:* Reinhardt Kristensen, Danish invertebrate biologist,...
, 1933), translations of which are available in Hebrew, Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, Japanese
Japanese language
is a language spoken by over 130 million people in Japan and in Japanese emigrant communities. It is a member of the Japonic language family, which has a number of proposed relationships with other languages, none of which has gained wide acceptance among historical linguists .Japanese is an...
, etc. The English title is The Philosophy of Judaism: The History of Jewish Philosophy from Biblical Times to Franz Rosenzweig
sees in this publication "the last product in the direct line of the authentic Judaeo-German 'Science of Judaism'," more commonly known as Wissenschaft des Judentums
Wissenschaft des Judentums
Wissenschaft des Judentums , refers to a nineteenth-century movement premised on the critical investigation of Jewish literature and culture, including rabbinic literature, using scientific methods to analyze the origins of Jewish traditions.-The Verein für Cultur und Wissenschaft der Juden:The ...
. While that movement did not utterly expire with the publication Guttman's work—its spirit living on in the work of G. Scholem and H.A. Wolfson among many others—it is certainly the case that the Wissenschaft movement in Germany had by the 1930s already ceased to thrive.
The original German edition of Philosophie des Judentums ends with Hermann Cohen
Hermann Cohen
Hermann Cohen was a German-Jewish philosopher, one of the founders of the Marburg School of Neo-Kantianism, and he is often held to be "probably the most important Jewish philosopher of the nineteenth century".-Life:...
, the primary influence on Guttman's own philosophy, while the later Hebrew edition includes Franz Rosenzweig
Franz Rosenzweig
Franz Rosenzweig was an influential Jewish theologian and philosopher.-Early life:Franz Rosenzweig was born in Kassel, Germany to a middle-class, minimally observant Jewish family...
. It is also notable that Guttman's work excludes major thinkers of the Kabbalistic school, which reflects his own attitude toward Jewish philosophy
Jewish philosophy
Jewish philosophy , includes all philosophy carried out by Jews, or, in relation to the religion of Judaism. Jewish philosophy, until modern Enlightenment and Emancipation, was pre-occupied with attempts to reconcile coherent new ideas into the tradition of Rabbinic Judaism; thus organizing...
(Werblowsky 1964).
Personalities Appearing in "Die Philosophie des Judentums"
- Chiwi al-Balkhi
- Saadia ben Joseph
- Isaac IsraeliIsaac IsraeliIsaac Israeli may refer to:* Isaac Israeli ben Solomon, ninth-century Jewish physician and scientist* Isaac Israeli ben Joseph, fourteenth-century Jewish astronomer...
- Solomon ibn GabirolSolomon ibn GabirolSolomon ibn Gabirol, also Solomon ben Judah , was an Andalucian Hebrew poet and Jewish philosopher with a Neoplatonic bent. He was born in Málaga about 1021; died about 1058 in Valencia.-Biography:...
- Bahya ibn PaqudaBahya ibn PaqudaBahya ben Joseph ibn Paquda was a Jewish philosopher and rabbi who lived at Zaragoza, Spain, in the first half of the eleventh century...
- Yehuda Halevy
- Abraham ibn DaudAbraham ibn DaudAbraham ibn Daud was a Spanish-Jewish astronomer, historian, and philosopher; born at Toledo, Spain about 1110; died, according to common report, a martyr about 1180. He is sometimes known by the abbreviation Rabad I or Ravad I. His mother belonged to a family famed for its learning...
- Moses Maimonides
- Levi ben Gerson
- Chasdai Crescas
- Moses MendelssohnMoses MendelssohnMoses Mendelssohn was a German Jewish philosopher to whose ideas the renaissance of European Jews, Haskalah is indebted...
- Spinoza
- Solomon FormstecherSolomon FormstecherSalomon Formstecher, in English also Solomon, was a German rabbi and student of Jewish theology.Formstecher was born in Offenbach am Main on July 28, 1808. After graduating Salomon Formstecher, in English also Solomon, (1808-1889) was a German rabbi and student of Jewish theology.Formstecher was...
- Samuel HirschSamuel HirschSamuel Hirsch, was a major Reform religious philosopher and rabbi.-Biography:Born in Thalfang , he received his training at Metz...
- Nachman KrochmalNachman KrochmalNachman Kohen Krochmal was a Jewish Galician philosopher, theologian, and historian.-Biography:...
- Salomon Ludwig Steinheim
- Moritz LazarusMoritz LazarusMoritz Lazarus , born at Filehne, in the Prussian province of Posen, was a German philosopher, psychologist, and a vocal opponent of the anti-Semitism of his time.- Life and education :...
- Hermann CohenHermann CohenHermann Cohen was a German-Jewish philosopher, one of the founders of the Marburg School of Neo-Kantianism, and he is often held to be "probably the most important Jewish philosopher of the nineteenth century".-Life:...
- Franz RosenzweigFranz RosenzweigFranz Rosenzweig was an influential Jewish theologian and philosopher.-Early life:Franz Rosenzweig was born in Kassel, Germany to a middle-class, minimally observant Jewish family...
See also
- Isaac HusikIsaac HusikIsaac Husik was a Jewish historian, translator, and student of philosophy, one of the first three individuals to serve as official faculty at Gratz College in Philadelphia.-Biography:...
, whose English languageEnglish languageEnglish is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
history of medieval Jewish philosophy bears similarities to Guttmann's Philosophies of Judaism.