Talmudic lecture by Georges Hansel, May 13

Sunday, May 13, 4:30-5:45 p.m.
Gorsuch Commons, Room 107

In this Talmudic lecture, Georges Hansel, internationally known scholar on the work of French philosopher Emmanuel Levinas, relates the work of Levinas to the medieval scholar Maimonides.

In his Talmudic commentaries, Maimonides leads to the rejection of any theological discourse in its usual meaning, namely as a direct discourse on God. It turns out that this rejection opens dimensions of what can be called "human access to transcendence," dimensions which are free from all mysticism and are in keeping with the most authentic Talmudic spirit. Such perspectives truly characterize Maimonides' thought when taken as a whole.

Throughout the presentation, Hansel relates Maimonides' and Levinas' thoughts to highlight their striking convergence despite their different starting points.