Karaism and Christian Hebraism: A New Document*

2006 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 1089-1116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel J. Lasker
Keyword(s):  
Contemporary Literature ◽  
Semitic Languages ◽  
Hebrew Letter ◽  
Ralph Cudworth ◽  
John Selden ◽  
The University ◽  
Christian Hebraism

In September 1641 Joannes Stephanus Rittangel sent a Hebrew letter to John Selden, the prominent English jurist and Christian Hebraist, soliciting Selden’s assistance in publishing Karaite manuscripts. The letter’s publication here contributes both to our knowledge of the activities of Rittangel — expert in Karaism and Professor Extraordinary of Semitic languages at the University of Koenigsberg — and to the picture we have of Christian Hebraism in England. From this letter and from references to Rittangel in contemporary literature, we can reconstruct some of his activities from the time he was recorded to have been in Lithuania at the end of 1640 to his appearance in Amsterdam in late 1641. We can also appreciate how knowledge of Karaism was spread among English Christians such as John Selden and Ralph Cudworth, and also how that information contributed to the millenarianism of Samuel Hartlib and John Dury.

Arminianism and the English Parliament, 1624–1629

1973 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 41-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hillel Schwartz
Keyword(s):  
Contemporary Literature ◽  
Orthodox Church ◽  
House Of Commons ◽  
The Commons ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Clear Idea ◽  
The University ◽  
Strong Suspicion

“Oh, Mr. Pym, this breaks the heart,” lamented Sir Richard Grosvenor in the House of Commons in 1629; “if God be God, let us follow him, and if Baal be God, let us follow him, and no longer halt between two opinions.” The Baalites, it was clear to the Commons, were the Arminians, who threatened “the very ruin and desolation if not dissolution of Religion in this land.” Such was the threat of Arminianism that when the Commons presented its Protestations on March 2, the first article read,Whosoever shall bring in innovation in Religion, or by favour or countenance, seek to extend or introduce Popery or Arminianism or other opinions disagreeing from the true and orthodox Church, shall be reputed a capital enemy to this Kingdom and Commonwealth.This was no ordinary condemnation of schism or theological haggling. The members of the Commons shared a strong suspicion of Arminianism as a political as well as religious heresy. They had a clear idea of what English Arminianism was and who was an Arminian. Before 1624, no Englishman had even been accused of Arminianism, either in Parliament or in contemporary literature devoted to religious controversies. How did the definition of English Arminianism develop between 1624 and 1629? How did Arminianism, originally a moderate Dutch Calvinism, come to be considered along with Popery as a treasonable theology?At the turn of the seventeeth century, Jacobus Arminius, Divinity Reader at the University of Leyden, had proposed a theological compromise between Supralapsarian and Infralapsarian Protestantism.

Newton and Cambridge Platonism

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Hutton
Keyword(s):  
Significant Part ◽  
Infinite Space ◽  
University Of Cambridge ◽  
Ralph Cudworth ◽  
Cambridge Platonism ◽  
Henry More ◽  
The University ◽  
The Trinity ◽  
Cambridge Platonists

This article discusses Isaac Newton’s relations with two older colleagues at the University of Cambridge, Ralph Cudworth and Henry More, two of the so-called Cambridge Platonists,. It shows that there are biographical links between them, especially between More and Newton. Despite differences in theological outlook (e.g. on the Trinity), they shared intellectual interests and scholarly approach. All three were critical of Descartes, and More, like Newton, posited infinite space. In addition, there were parallels in their investigations of biblical prophecy—thanks to their debt to the Cambridge Bible scholar Joseph Mede. Newton drew on Cudworth and, like More, examined the texts of the Kabbala denudata. It is argued here that, although Newton differed from them in his conclusions, More and Cudworth were a significant part of Newton’s intellectual background.

Toward a virtue account of science

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Jacob Warren Wright
Keyword(s):  
Contemporary Literature ◽  
Laws Of Nature ◽  
Test Case ◽  
Knowledge Model ◽  
University Of Missouri ◽  
Scientific Goal ◽  
Zero Force Evolutionary Law ◽  
The University ◽  
The Relationship

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] This dissertation argues for a virtue account of science in which foundational scientific goals are achieved by scientists' employment of virtuous tools and practices. Chapter 1 discusses contemporary literature on the nature and success of biology, especially the realism/antirealism debate within biology. This chapter also provides background into the debate surrounding explanation and understanding. Chapter 2 challenges the idea that successful biology requires appeals to laws of nature by arguing that some foundational scientific goals best realized by unlawful tools and practices. This result provides a criterion for determining whether a discipline is more scientific than another another; disciplines are more or less scientific to the extent that they are able to achieve foundational scientific goals. Chapter 3 examines a test case for the result in Chapter 2 by analyzing McShea and Brandon's [2010] Zero Force Evolutionary Law (ZFEL). I show that the ZFEL's failure as a law does not impact its usefulness to scientists, who are able to use the ZFEL to achieve a number of important, foundational goals. Chapter 4 provides a strategy for determining foundational scientific goals by examining the debate surrounding the relationship between understanding and explanation. By analyzing Khalifa's [2013a] Explanatory Knowledge Model of Understanding, I demonstrate that understanding is not a species of explanation and is thus a foundational scientific goal. It is a goal that scientists aim at, has intrinsic benefit, and is not reducible to other scientific goals. Finally, Chapter 5 presents an outline of the virtue account. On this account, science is successful to the extent it regularly achieves foundational scientific goals. Science does so by employing virtuous tools and practices--those tools and practices that regularly allow for the achievement of foundational goals. The chapter concludes by examining several benefits of this view and considering future avenues for research.

Coda as Brief

2020 ◽  
pp. 214-240
Author(s):  
Lisa Siraganian
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Contemporary Literature ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mechanical Parts ◽  
Court Of Appeals ◽  
The University ◽  
Hobby Lobby

“A corporation has convictions as a person has mechanical parts.” Jena Osman, “The Beautiful Life of Persona Ficta” (2014)1 Appeal No. 17-1001-CR IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE UNIVERSITY CIRCUIT Contemporary LITERATURE Appellant v. Burwell v. HOBBY LOBBY STORES, INC. 573 US (2014)...

Music Deposited by Stationers' Hall at the Library of the University and King's College of Aberdeen, 1753–96

1997 ◽  
Vol 30 ◽  
pp. 139-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Turbet
Keyword(s):  
Contemporary Literature ◽  
King's College ◽  
The Many ◽  
The University ◽  
To Receive

Under the provisions of the 1709 Copyright Act, Scottish universities were entitled to a copy of each printed work entered at Stationers' Hall, London. This entitlement ceased in 1836 when the five Scottish universities agreed to receive an annual payment in lieu of the privilege of deposit. Amongst the many difficulties thrown up by the well-intentioned legislation of 1709, a peculiarly Aberdonian aspect was that the Act specified only ‘the Four Univerisities in Scotland’ provoking arguments as to which of Aberdeen's two universities, King's College or Marischal College, should be the recipient. Although this was- resolved in favour of King's College, it is clear that friction persisted. As late as 1826 the Aberdeen Censor was urging, ‘I wish the members of Marischal College would look to what has become o’ the Stationers' Hall music'. This seems to be the only reference in contemporary literature to the collection.

“Give Books a Chance, Even the Really Weird and Bizarre Ones”

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 375-395
Author(s):  
Kenneth Lota
Keyword(s):  
Contemporary Literature ◽  
Final Exam ◽  
House Of Leaves ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
Chapel Hill ◽  
Literature Pedagogy ◽  
Special Value ◽  
Literature Class ◽  
The University ◽  
Time’S Arrow

This article uses a contemporary literature class titled Alternatives to Realism that the author taught at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as the basis to argue for the special value of experimental, speculative, and otherwise antirealistic literature for introductory-level undergraduate literature pedagogy. The author argues that, rather than choosing realistic narratives that students are likely to understand and relate to on first pass, professors should deliberately seek out works students are likely to initially find confusing or strange and then endeavor to help them understand those texts. The article suggests that the difficulty associated with such texts, rather than intimidating students, actually invites them to engage with the reading process more actively and enthusiastically. The article discusses the premise and overall structure of the class and the rationale behind it; delves into specific examples of discussions and assignments based on such texts as Mark Z. Danielewski’s House of Leaves and Martin Amis’s Time’s Arrow; and examines students’ own ultimate responses to the class as presented in their final exam reflection essays. Ultimately, the author argues that teaching (seemingly) difficult, idiosyncratic literary works helps students appreciate the unique intellectual work of reading, strengthens their self-confidence, and leads them to a keener appreciation of the humanities more broadly.

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