Israel Prize Winner Asa Kasher to Teach Philosophy to Shalem’s First Academic Class
Israel-Prize winning philosopher Asa Kasher will be teaching “Introduction to Philosophy” as part of Shalem’s Core Curriculum, a first-of-its-kind program integrating the study of Western philosophy, Jewish thought, the natural and social sciences, and the humanities. In his course, Prof. Kasher, co-author of the IDF’s Code of Ethics, will argue that it is both possible and necessary to build bridges between theory and practice. Moreover, his course will demonstrate that philosophy can and should play a role in public debate. Through a combined lecture and open-discussion format, the course will address the multi-faceted nature of the contexts in which philosophical, ethical, and moral dilemmas arise. It will also show how philosophers throughout history have discussed these dilemmas, and at times even assisted nations in solving complex political and social problems.
Prof. Kasher is a world-renowned expert in the fields of pragmatics and practical ethics, and one of the Jewish state’s leading public intellectuals. Author of numerous scholarly and popular works on political theory and Israeli democracy, he is regularly asked to serve in an advisory role to various government bodies. He is also professor emeritus at Tel Aviv University, a former Templeton fellow at Shalem, and has taught and done research at Oxford, UCLA, the IDF Military Academies, and universities in Amsterdam, Berlin, and Ghent, among others. “Prof. Kasher’s singular background, which combines the study of philosophical doctrines and concepts with their real-world applications, will help advance our vision of a curriculum that links education with citizenship, and thought with action in the real world,” explains Shalem Executive Vice-President and Provost Daniel Polisar. “The complex character of Israel, with its dual nature as a Jewish and democratic state, demands nothing less.”
Kasher’s course is supported by the Sigi Ziering Fund for Philosophy and Ethics, designed to advance the teaching and research of Shalem faculty involved in shaping Israel’s public life in accordance with its liberal tradition. Additional Ziering faculty include jurist Ruth Gavison, a renowned legal scholar and advocate for human rights, who will teach “Israel as a Jewish and Democratic State,” also as part of Shalem’s Core. The Ziering Fund will also enable Shalem to bring leading scholars from abroad to campus for mini-seminar series and lectures throughout the academic year. Students interested in learning more about Shalem’s unique Core Curriculum should send an email to [email protected].
