New Streams in Philosophy of Halakhah

What is Philosophy of Halakhah? Can the Halakhah be understood philosophically? Is the Halakhah influenced by factors external to it?

This book, New Streams in Philosophy of Halakhah points to new directions of research by outstanding scholars in this field.

This book has four sections: <1> delineating the field of inquiry; <2> study of the role and function of philosophy in Halakhic discourse; <3> formalism and realism in Halakhic interpretation; <4> sociological, anthropological and gender orientated readings of the Halakhah.

In these sections fundamental issues will be clarified including defining the discourse of philosophy of Halakhah, the diverse elements within Halakhah, and the contribution of the Halakhic philosopher to an understanding and clarification of the Halakhah and its significance. Also treated in this book is the issue, whether the Halakhah is characterized only by factors inherent in it or whether also by valuative and philosophical worlds outside of it. What is the weight of external considerations in the shaping of the Halakhah and its decision makers? Can the tools of Sociology and Anthropology enrich our understanding of the Halakhic process? In examining these questions the authors deal with the Philosophy of the Halakhah through critical but also normative lenses.

This book lays before the readers the cutting edge of research in Philosophy of Halakhah, and it gives the reader a fascinating point of entry into philosophical-Halakhic discourse.