In the Beginning Is Philosophy: On Desire and the Good (American University Studies)

Philosophy, when understood to embody the values that are fundamental to modernity, is biblical in origin, both historically and ontologically. Central to this idea is the question famously posed by Tertullian: What does Athens have to do with Jerusalem? The answer – as based on a comprehensive and systematic discussion of the key texts and ideas of Spinoza, Vico, Rousseau, Kant, Hegel, Kierkegaard, and Nietzsche – is that we can overcome the conventional opposition between reason and faith, between philosophy and theology, and between the secular and the religious only if we learn to see that, as Spinoza shows us, both philosophy (reason) and theology (faith) are based on __caritas__: love – on the divine command to do unto others what you want others to do unto you. Provided throughout is a commentary on how fundamentally different philosophy is in the Greek and in the biblical traditions (in Athens and in Jerusalem). Whereas Socrates argues that (human) desire and the (divine) good are contradictory opposites, Spinoza shows that it is human desire that truly constitutes the divine good of all. This book would be indispensable to courses (both undergraduate and graduate) in philosophy, religious studies, and the history of ideas – in interdisciplinary courses in the humanities, generally – that focus on the values that are central, both historically and ontologically, to modernity. Cover 1 Contents 11 Acknowledgments 13 1. Introduction: In Beginning with Adam and Eve as the Story of Two Beginnings—in Athens and Jerusalem 15 2. History: What Do I Believe? In Beginning with History as Faith in the Absolute 33 3. Ontology: What Do I Think? In Beginning with God as Necessary Existence 55 Introduction: The Ironies Multiply 55 Testing the Spirits with Nietzsche 63 The Gay Science and Thus Spoke Zarathustra 63 On the Genealogy of Morals 77 Conclusion: The Ironic Truth of Modernity 97 4. Ethics: What Do I Love? In Beginning with the Neighbor as My Creation 101 Introduction 101 Spinoza 104 Aristotle 126 Conclusion 133 5. Hermeneutics: What Do I Interpret? In Beginning with the Other as the Truth of Myself 141 Introduction 141 Spinoza 147 Vico 168 Conclusion 185 6. Politics: What Do I Will? In Beginning with Relationship as the Freedom and Equality of All 189 Introduction 189 Rousseau 191 Spinoza 212 Conclusion 232 7. Conclusion: In Ending with Philosophy as Beginning with the Good of Desire 239 Notes 251 References 261 Index 275 Introduction: In Beginning With Adam And Eve As The Story Of Two Beginnings-in Athens And Jerusalem -- History: What Do I Believe?: In Beginning With History As Faith In The Absolute -- Ontology: What Do I Think?: In Beginning With God As Necessary Existence -- Ethics: What Do I Love?: In Beginning With The Neighbor As My Creation -- Hermeneutics: What Do I Interpret?: In Beginning With The Other As The Truth Of Myself -- Politics: What Do I Will?: In Beginning With Relationship As The Freedom And Equality Of All -- Conclusion: In Ending With Philosophy As Beginning With The Good Of Desire. Brayton Polka. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.