Rabbinic Political Theory: Religion and Politics in the Mishnah

by Jacob Neusner

Publisher:

University of Chicago Press

, 1991

Overview

In The Economics of the Mishnah Jacob Neusner showed how economics functioned as an active and generative ingredient in the system of the Mishnah. With this new study, Rabbinic Political Theory, he moves from the economics to the politics of the Mishnah, placing that politics in the broader context of ancient political theory.

Neusner begins his study with a modification of Weber’s categories for a theory of politics: myth, institutions, administration, passion, responsibility, and proportion. Detailing the Mishnah’s conception of politics, Neusner considers what he calls the stable and static structure and system through comparison with Aristotle. Although Aristotle’s Politics and the Mishnah share a common economic theory based on the fundamental unit of the householder, they diverge in their conceptions of political structure and order. Aristotle embeds economics within political economy, while, Neusner argues, the Mishnah presents the anomaly of an economics separated from politics.

Using modern political terms, this study explicates the complicated politics developed by the philosopher-theologians of the Mishnah. It is a first-rate contribution to our understanding of the intersection of politics, political philosophy, and the Mishnaic system.

Key Features

• Explores the intersection of politics, political philosophy, and the Mishnaic system
• Places politics in the broader context of ancient political theory

Contents

• Preface
• Introduction
• Defining a Politics and the Politics of a Religion
• Defining a Judaism and the Judaism of the Mishnah

Part One - The Structure

• Politics within the Judaic Myth
• The Divine Plan of Perfect Hierarchy
• Administering the Social Order

Part Two - The System

• Passion: Sanctification
• Responsibility: Intention
• Transcending Power: Proportion and Governance

Part Three - The Politics of Judaism in Systemic Context

• Judaism’s Initial Politics: A Theory of Comparison and Contrast
• Why Aristotle in Particular?

Product Details

• Title: Rabbinic Political Theory: Religion and Politics in the Mishnah
• Author: Jacob Neusner
• Series: Chicago Studies in the History of Judaism
• Publisher: University of Chicago Press
• Print Publication Date: 1991
• Logos Release Date: 2022
• Pages: 262
• Era: era:contemporary
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
• Subjects: Politics in rabbinical literature; Mishnah › Criticism, interpretation, etc
• ISBNs: 0226576507, 0226576515, 9780226576503, 9780226576510
• Resource ID: LLS:RBBNCPLTCLTHRY
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2023-01-05T16:32:22Z

About Jacob Neusner

Jacob Neusner (1932–2016) was a preeminent scholar of ancient Judaism and one of the most published authors ever, with more than 900 original volumes to his name. He was educated at Harvard University, the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, the University of Oxford, and Yale University. He was research professor of theology and senior fellow of the Institute of Advanced Theology at Bard College. Neusner’s work has been highly influential, if sometimes controversial. He pioneered applying “form criticism” to Rabbinic texts, and aimed at a humanistic and academic reading of ancient Jewish literature.

Neusner’s works include the Jacob Neusner Jewish Studies Bundle (99 vols.).