Ernst Cassirer

"With brilliance and considerable daring, Peter Gordon's Rosenzweig and Heidegger broaches the possibility of a shared horizon and a promising dialogue between these two seminal figures--these antipodes--of twentieth-century thought. It will be the bench mark for future work in the field."--Thomas Sheehan, author of "Heidegger: The Man and the Thinker

"In this brilliant book, Peter Gordon sheds light on Rosenzweig's most important philosophical book, "The Star of Redemption, by means of an unexpected (and sure to be controversial) comparison--with the philosophy of Heidegger's "Being and Time. The result is a "must read" for anyone with a serious interest in either thinker."--Hilary Putnam, author of "The Collapse of the Fact/Value Dichotomy and Other Essays

"A major work. Gordon persuasively argues that the true originality of Rosenzweig's achievement, heretofore associated with a distinctively "Jewish" break with his German philosophical milieu, only becomes intelligible from within that very milieu. Focusing on resemblances between Rosenzweig's and Heidegger's projects, Gordon discerns the contours of a post-Nietzschean religious sensibility condensed into the paradox of a "redemption-in-the-world." This book will be valued by readers of both Heidegger and Rosenzweig, and by anyone interested in the intersections of philosophy and religion."--Eric L. Santner, author of "On the Psychotheology of Everyday Life: Reflections on Freud and Rosenzweig

"A comparative reading of Rosenzweig's "Star of Redemption and Heidegger's "Being and Time. Peter Eli Gordon has written a work of exemplary erudition, analytical nuance, philosophical acumen and expository grace."--Paul Mendes-Flohr,author of "German Jews: A Dual Identity

This Biographical Dictionary provides detailed accounts of the lives, works, influence and reception of thinkers from all the major philosophical schools and traditions of the twentieth-century.This unique volume covers the lives and careers of thinkers from all areas of philosophy - from analytic philosophy to Zen and from formal logic to aesthetics. All the major figures of philosophy, such as Nietzsche, Wittgenstein and Russell are examined and analysed. The scope of the work is not merely restricted to the major figures in western philosophy but also covers in depth a significant number of thinkers from the near and far east and from the non-European Hispanic-language communities.The Biographical Dictionary also includes a number of general entries dealing with important schools of philosophy, such as the Vienna Circle, or currents of thought, such as vitalism. These allow the reader to set the individual biographies in the context of the philosophical history of the period. With entries written by over 100 leading philosophy scholars, the Biographical Dictionary is the most comprehensive survey of twentieth-century thinkers to date.StructureThe book is structured alphabetically by philosopher. Each entry is identically structured for ease of access and covers:* nationality* dates and places of birth and death* philosophical style or school* areas of interest* higher education* significant influences* main appointments* main publications* secondary literature* account of intellectual development and main ideas* critical reception and impactAt the end of the book a glossary gives accounts of the schools, movements and traditions to which these philosophers belonged, and thorough indexes enable the reader to access the information in several ways:* by nationality* by major areas of contribution to philosophy e.g. aesthetics* by major influences on the thinker concerned e.g. Plato, Kant, Wittgenstein