Rosenzweig between East and West: Restoration of India and China in The Star of Redemption

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Abstract

This article will present Franz Rosenzweig's attitude toward the religions and cultures of East Asia, and his philosophical response to the trend of German Orientalism, and especially to Martin Buber’s Ecstatic Confessions . Rosenzweig's references to India and China appeared systematically in the first book of the Star of Redemption , once for the analysis of metaphysics, second for the account of metalogic, and the third time as part of the discussion of meta-ethics. A close look at Rosenzweig’s treatment of the cultures and religions of India and China in The Star of Redemption might lead a reader, even a careful one, to the conclusion that he did not seriously regard the dialogue between East and West as having any special significance. However, in this article I will ask to reevaluate the place of Indian and Chinese religions in the Star of Redemption , under Buber’s influence. The cultural elements of Indian and Chinese mythologies contribute to the religious development of humanity - and take a significant part in the development of the religions of revelation and the course of redemption.

About the authors

Hanoch Ben Pazi

Bar Ilan University

Email: benpazh@mail.biu.ac.il
Professor, Department of Jewish Philosophy Ramat Gan, 5290002, Israel

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