Editing Jewish philosophy (section)

=== Jewish rationalism ===
[[File:Hermann Cohen (lithograph by Karl Doerbecker).jpg|thumb|left|[[Hermann Cohen]]]]
Rationalism re-emerged as a popular perspective among Jews.<ref>"Jewish Rationalism Reemergent," ''Conservative Judaism,'' Volume 36, Issue 4, Page 81</ref> Contemporary Jewish rationalism often draws on ideas associated with medieval philosophers such as Maimonides and modern Jewish rationalists such as [[Hermann Cohen]].

Cohen was a German Jewish [[neo-Kantian]] philosopher who turned to Jewish subjects at the end of his career in the early 20th century, picking up on the ideas of Maimonides. In America, [[Steven Schwarzschild]] continued Cohen's legacy.<ref>Steven Schwarzschild, "To Re-Cast Rationalism," ''Judaism'' 2 (1962).</ref> Another prominent contemporary Jewish rationalist is [[Lenn Goodman]], who works out of the traditions of medieval Jewish rationalist philosophy.  Conservative rabbis [[Alan Mittleman]] of the [[Jewish Theological Seminary of America|Jewish Theological Seminary]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jtsa.edu/x12578.xml |title=The Jewish Theological Seminary |publisher=Jtsa.edu |access-date=2012-10-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313185226/http://www.jtsa.edu/x12578.xml |archive-date=2013-03-13 }}</ref> and [[Elliot N. Dorff]] of [[American Jewish University]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adath-shalom.ca/dorf_rev.htm |title=From Medievaland Modern Theories Of Revelation By Elliot N. Dorff |publisher=Adath-shalom.ca |access-date=2012-10-22}}</ref> also see themselves in the rationalist tradition, as does David Novak of the [[University of Toronto]].<ref>''Tradition in the public square: a David Novak reader'', page xiv</ref> Novak works in the natural law tradition, which is one version of rationalism.

Philosophers in Israel in the rationalist tradition included [[David Hartman (rabbi)|David Hartman]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://etd.lib.fsu.edu/theses/available/etd-09182003-143438/unrestricted/07_aed_chapter2.pdf |title=Halakhic Latitudinarianism: David Hartman on the commanded life |publisher=Etd.lib.fsu.edu |access-date=2012-10-22 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120624183933/http://etd.lib.fsu.edu/theses/available/etd-09182003-143438/unrestricted/07_aed_chapter2.pdf |archive-date=2012-06-24 }}</ref> and [[Moshe Halbertal]].<ref>Noam Zion, [http://www.hartmaninstitute.com/uploads/Holidays/Elu-02062008_0957_45.pdf Elu v'Elu: Two Schools of Halakha Face Off On Issues of Human Autonomy, Majority Rule and Divine Voice of Authority] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120724090413/http://www.hartmaninstitute.com/uploads/Holidays/Elu-02062008_0957_45.pdf |date=2012-07-24 }}, p. 8</ref>

{{Location map many | Israel
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Some Orthodox rationalists in Israel take a "restorationist"{{citation needed|date=December 2010}} approach, reaching back in time for tools to simplify Rabbinic Judaism and bring all Jews, regardless of status or stream of Judaism, closer to the observance of ''[[Halakha]]'', ''[[Mitzvah|mitzvot]]'', ''[[kashrut]]'', and Maimonides' [[Jewish principles of faith]]. [[Dor Daim]] and [[Dor Daim#Talmide ha-Rambam|Rambamists]] are two groups who reject mysticism as a "superstitious innovation" to an otherwise clear and succinct set of laws and rules. According to them, shame and disgrace are attached to failure to investigate matters of religious principle using the fullest powers of human reason and intellect. One cannot be considered wise or perceptive if one does not attempt to understand the origins and establish the correctness of one's beliefs.