Hermann Cohen and the Crisis of Liberalism: The Enchantment of the Public Sphere

Hermann Cohen (1842-1918) is often held to be one of the most important Jewish philosophers of the nineteenth century. Paul E. Nahme, in this new consideration of Cohen, liberalism, and religion, emphasizes the idea of enchantment, or the faith in and commitment to ideas, reason, and critique--the animating spirits that move society forward. Nahme views Cohen through the lenses of the crises of Imperial Germany--the rise of antisemitism, nationalism, and secularization--to come to a greater understanding of liberalism, its Protestant and Jewish roots, and the spirits of modernity and tradition that form its foundation. Nahme's philosophical and historical retelling of the story of Cohen and his spiritual investment in liberal theology present a strong argument for religious pluralism and public reason in a world rife with populism, identity politics, and conspiracy theories.

Author: Paul Egan Nahme
Publisher: Indiana University Press
Published: 03/28/2019
Pages: 340
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.45lbs
Size: 9.06h x 5.98w x 1.10d
ISBN: 9780253039750

Review Citation(s):
Choice 04/01/2020

About the Author

Paul E. Nahme is Dorot Assistant Professor of Judaic Studies and Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Brown University.