In this article, I will argue against the Orthodox Jewish view that the Torah should be treated as an absolute authority. I begin with an explanation of what it means to treat something as an absolute authority. I then review examples of norms in the Torah that seem clearly immoral. Next, I explore reasons that people may have for accepting a person, text, or tradition as an absolute authority in general. I argue that none of these reasons can justify absolute authority if the authority prescribes norms that we strongly judge to be immoral. I then respond to three objections to my argument. I end with a note explaining why, contrary to a popular trend, the narrative of the binding of Isaac is not a good place to start this discussion.

The Association for the Philosophy of Judaism is pleased to announce several online symposia during 2020 on chapters from the new publication Jewish Philosophy in an Analytic Age, edited by Sam Lebens, Dani Rabinowitz, and Aaron Segal (Oxford University Press,...

The Association for the Philosophy of Judaism is proud to be co-sponsoring a conference on the meaning of life, at the University of Haifa. For more details, please click to see the conference Booklet

As part of the John Templeton Foundation-sponsored project, entitled “Worship: A Jewish Philosophical Investigation,” we welcome abstracts for papers on the theme, “Worship and the Divine”. We are looking to receive abstracts (1) with relevance to the summer’s theme, (2) that...

Essay Prize 2018-2019 This year, the Association for the Philosophy of Judaism is running a special essay prize, on the theme of the Meaning of Life. The analytic tradition of philosophy has dedicated surprisingly little attention to the ultimate question...

For a full schedule, see: https://bit.ly/2Jv8jUb For a booklet of the abstracts for all of the talks, see: https://bit.ly/2Jy3KZq

From 18-24 March, the APJ is pleased to host a symposium on the Conclusion (chapter 7) of David Benatar’s book Better to Never have Been (OUP 2006) in which he claims that his anti-natalist views are compatible with certain religious...

The APJ is pleased to host an online symposium on the following paper: The “Promise of a New Past” by Sam Lebens and Tyron Goldschmidt. Philosophers’ Imprint 2017, 17 (18): 1-25 Respondents: Kenneth Hochstetter (Southern Nevada) Hud Hudson (Western Washington)...

APJ essay prize 2017 The Association for the Philosophy of Judaism is dedicated to encouraging new work in the philosophy of Judaism. Our annual APJ Essay Prize will be awarded to new work in the philosophy of Judaism. The winner...

By Michael Harris, The Torah u-Madda Journal (17/2016-17). With thanks to the editor of TUMJ, please click here for a copy of Harris’s paper. For responses by commentators and reply by Harris, please click here