EPISODE 89 Fundamentalism and the Ethics of Reading
“It’s not only through learning that we can express who we are as Jews.”— Professor William Kolbrener
Have the humanities become a supportive platform or mirror for fundamentalist modes of thinking, rather than an antidote?
Over the past few decades, the humanities have undergone a major shift. Has a new dogmatic focus on “correcting” discourse stifled academic curiosity and exploration? Are the dogmas of the left and right more closely related than we think?
This episode of the Living Jewishly Podcasts is an instalment of What Would You Do?, a podcast about ethical issues in our modern world. Dr. Elliott Malamet speaks with Professor William Kolbrener, professor of English Literature at Bar Ilan University in Israel, about the evolution of reading communities, the problems surrounding the rise of the safe space, and the differences between teaching in North America and teaching in Israel.
“I feel betrayed by the left — I don’t feel betrayed by the right, I always knew the right didn’t have my interests in mind.”— Professor William Kolbrener
This episode discusses:
- Why and when the shift in the humanities began to occur — and how this legacy is playing out today
- Whether the language of self-interested modernity is antithetical to maintaining a traditional community
- What modern students are seeking — and craving — in their educational experiences
Highlights:
00:52 Intro
03:00 Reading communities now & then
06:00 Legacy of 16th & 17th century humanists
08:01 The shift of the humanities
12:09 Charedi world
14:35 Free interpretations v. un-free lived experiences
17:10 Destined for greatness
19:31 Modernity v. traditional communities
23:01 What modern students are craving
28:09 Teaching the humanities in Israel
31:00 Fate of the humanities
32:10 Conclusion
Links:
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