The Elie Wiesel Center for Jewish Studies is pleased to announce a thought-provoking talk on Wednesday, March 1st, at 4 PM. “A Controversy on Ethical Culture: Hermann Cohen and Felix Adler” will be held at the Center Library on 147 Bay State Road, with a reception to follow.
In this talk, Professor Myriam Bienenstock will delve into the history of the German Society for Ethical Culture, founded in Berlin in 1892 and modeled after the Ethical Culture Society created by American philosopher and social reformer Felix Adler in New York in 1876. The society won the support of prominent figures, including the German-Jewish philosopher Hermann Cohen, who later withdrew his support. Prof. Bienenstock will argue that Cohen remained a staunch defender of the universalistic ethical convictions advocated by Ethical Culture societies but contended that they must be defended by law to avoid becoming marginalized and relapsing into the very ‘confessionalism’ of the sectarian and ‘religious’ communities they wanted to eradicate. This argument remains highly relevant in the realm of education, particularly in the ongoing debate about how ethics should be taught in schools.
Prof. Bienenstock, a renowned expert in the field of Practical Philosophy of German Idealism and Jewish Thought, will share her insights and research on the topic. Born and educated in France, she is currently an Emeritus Prof. at the University of Tours and has published extensively on Hermann Cohen, Franz Rosenzweig, and Emmanuel Levinas. To learn more about Prof. Bienenstock, please visit her website at http://mbienenstock.free.fr/.
Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with a fascinating topic and hear from a respected voice in the field by registering HERE. We look forward to seeing you there!