Papers by Jason M Yonover
Oxford Handbook of Jewish Philosophy, 2025
In this chapter I emphasize both the importance of philosophers in the Jewish tradition to Spinoz... more In this chapter I emphasize both the importance of philosophers in the Jewish tradition to Spinoza and the importance of Spinoza to philosophers in or adjacent to the Jewish tradition. My primary focus here is on links to Spinoza’s magnum opus the Ethics, and I proceed in three main thematic steps with it in mind. Initially, I clarify some of the fundamentals of Spinoza’s metaphysics to the end of reviewing the therapeutic upshot of his ethical project (Section I). Next, with this relatively elementary dimension of Spinoza’s ethics in view, I explore the more rarified “blessedness” that he envisions at least some readers achieving via a kind of intuitive knowledge (Section II). Finally, after highlighting just how special this epistemic, ethical achievement is supposed to be, I outline Spinoza’s interest in what I call “etiology,” and explain why Spinoza thinks most of us are bound to fail in reaching blessedness and indeed knowledge generally, leading him to develop a more modest political-theological project as well (Section III). Throughout, I note the importance of both widely recognized and all-too neglected interlocutors, especially rationalist medievals as well as diverse moderns within the German-language tradition in particular.
The Oxford Handbook of 19th-Century Women Philosophers in the German Tradition, 2024
Abstract: In this chapter I explore, in some cases for the first time, the significance of the et... more Abstract: In this chapter I explore, in some cases for the first time, the significance of the ethical, liberatory dimension of Spinoza’s thought among a number of women philosophers across the long nineteenth century’s German tradition. I begin with brief discussions of Elise Reimarus and Charlotte von Stein. I then proceed to more in-depth treatments of Caroline Michaelis-Böhmer-Schlegel-Schelling and Karoline von Günderrode, stressing not only that we may learn about both in drawing out a link to Spinoza or Spinozism, but likewise that we can deepen our understanding of Spinoza in bringing him into dialogue with each (in particular regarding, respectively, the importance of others for self-expression, as well as the metaphysical and ethical status of death, especially suicide). I conclude with a discussion of the turn-of-the-century thinkers Lou Salomé as well as Resa von Schirnhofer, Anna Tumarkin, and especially Elisabeth Schmitt—some of the first academic women philosophers in the German-language context, all closely engaged with Spinoza’s writings—before presenting final remarks concerning the status of Spinoza’s thought in the present context generally.
European Journal of Philosophy, 2021
Abstract: In this paper I clarify a major affinity between Nietzsche and Spinoza that has been ne... more Abstract: In this paper I clarify a major affinity between Nietzsche and Spinoza that has been neglected in the literature–but that I propose Nietzsche was aware of–namely a tendency to etiology. Etiologies provide follow-up, second-order explanations of first-order matters that have already otherwise been decided. The example I take up here is Nietzsche's and Spinoza's rejections of free will–and especially their etiologies concerning how we wrongly come to think that we may boast of such a capacity. In working through the former (i.e., their rejections of free will) in order to make my central metaphilosophical point regarding the latter (i.e., their accounts of why we generally affirm that we have free will), I shed important new light on Nietzsche's relation to Spinoza. I also further our understanding of what role such second-order accounts play within each of their larger projects on their own terms.
Hegel on Tragedy and Comedy: New Essays, 2021
A Companion to Spinoza, 2021
Nexus: Essays in German-Jewish Studies, 2023
Abstract: In this essay, I introduce a translation of Salomon Maimon's posthumously-published "Hi... more Abstract: In this essay, I introduce a translation of Salomon Maimon's posthumously-published "History of His Philosophical Authorship, in Dialogues." I review Maimon's importance as a historical figure, provide further context on this wrongly neglected piece, and then discuss several of its most interesting features. My translation, the first to date, follows.
Fichte-Studien, 2021
Abstract: The idea of a first principle looms large in Fichte’s thought, and its first notable ap... more Abstract: The idea of a first principle looms large in Fichte’s thought, and its first notable appearance is in his “Aphorisms on Religion and Deism” (1790), which has received little attention. I begin this paper by providing some context on that piece, and then developing a reconstruction of the position presented within it. Next, I establish that Fichte’s views at the time of writing, and for some years prior, are those of the “deist,” and clarify why he felt he had to leave this stance represented in the “Aphorisms” behind. I conclude that understanding Fichte’s transformation away from “deism,” a species of what he would eventually call “dogmatism,” can also help us understand Fichte’s critique of the latter kind of thinking and so shed light on Fichte’s better-known views; and I emphasize that Fichte’s transition from a strict rationalism to a form of Kantianism may be of interest not only to scholarship on Fichte and the period, but likewise to work on rationalism in contemporary metaphysics. Finally, in an appendix I supplement the paper with a first English translation of the entire text of the “Aphorisms,” including annotations.
Goethe Yearbook, 2018
Despite extant correspondence and mutual admiration, the relationship between Goethe and Salomon ... more Despite extant correspondence and mutual admiration, the relationship between Goethe and Salomon Maimon has only been touched upon once in the literature, and further clarification of the link between them remains a desideratum. Here I propose that the way to understand their seeing eye to eye is through Spinoza, and specifically their apparently shared interest in Spinoza’s notion of scientia intuitiva. Initially I provide some context so as to make clear what is so extraordinary about Maimon’s role here. Then I give a sketch of the relation Maimon and Goethe had both to Spinoza and each other while clarifying what is at stake. I conclude with various new findings.
Books by Jason M Yonover
Fifteen newly commissioned essays examining the legacy of Spinoza in German philosophy throughout... more Fifteen newly commissioned essays examining the legacy of Spinoza in German philosophy throughout the long nineteenth century. The focus on Spinoza’s influence illuminates the nature of his philosophical contributions, as well as novel aspects of the philosophical lineage from idealism to Marxism, psychoanalysis, and beyond. The chapters are at the cutting edge of research on modern German philosophy, concerning not only canonical figures like Kant and Marx, but also philosophers whose importance has since been neglected such as Salomon Maimon and Lou Salomé.
Public-facing by Jason M Yonover
Berliner Zeitung, 2023
Februar ist Black History Month. Seit 1990 wird er auch in Deutschland begangen. Hier reichen die... more Februar ist Black History Month. Seit 1990 wird er auch in Deutschland begangen. Hier reichen die Wurzeln der afrodiasporischen Community bis ins 17. Jahrhundert zurück. Doch sowohl in öffentlichen als auch in akademischen Diskursen fehlt es oftmals an Bewusstsein darüber, wie und auf welch vielfältige Weise Schwarze Geschichte und die Geschichte der deutschen Mehrheitsgesellschaft verflochten sind. Dies wurde unter anderem in der Debatte über das Verhältnis des Holocaust-Gedenkens zur Erinnerung an die deutschen Kolonialverbrechen problematisiert, die die Berliner Zeitung in den vergangenen zwei Jahren begleitet hat. Dieser Essay versucht, einen Kernaspekt jener Thematik zu erhellen: das komplexe Verhältnis, in dem zahlreiche Schwarze Denker:innen zu einem der wichtigsten deutschen Philosophen stehen: G.W.F. Hegel.
Book Reviews by Jason M Yonover
European Journal of Philosophy, 2022
Conference Organization by Jason M Yonover
Tolerance and Skepticism in the Haskalah, 2019
Die Vorträge im Rahmen der Ringvorlesung sollen in das innovative Denken der zwei zentralen Philo... more Die Vorträge im Rahmen der Ringvorlesung sollen in das innovative Denken der zwei zentralen Philosophen der deutsch-jüdischen Frühaufklärung einführen: Moses Mendelssohn (1729–1786) und Salomon Maimon (1753–1800). In den Mittelpunkt werden zwei grundle-gende Konzepte ihrer philosophischen Systeme, nämlich Toleranz und Skepsis, gerückt. Die Leitfrage, vor die sich diese Veranstaltung gestellt sieht, ist die wechselseitige Beziehung zwischen Toleranz und Skepsis sowie die Frage, auf welche Weise die beiden Denker Position dazu beziehen. Mit der Absicht, dieser Fragestellung nachzugehen, wird ein Hauptaugenmerk auf die jüdische Religion als zentralen Bestandteil von Mendelssohns und Maimons Weltanschauungen gerichtet.
The lectures within the framework of the lecture series are intended to provide an introduction into the innovative thought of the two central philosophers of the German-Jewish Enlightenment: Moses Mendelssohn and Salomon Maimon. Two concepts of their philosophical systems, namely tolerance and scepticism, will gain centre stage. The main question that these lectures will address is the reciprocal relation between tolerance and scepticism, and in what way did both these thinkers take a stance in this regard. To answer this question, special attention will be drawn to the Jewish religion, inasmuch as it constitutes an elemental component of their Weltanschauungen.
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Papers by Jason M Yonover
Books by Jason M Yonover
Public-facing by Jason M Yonover
Book Reviews by Jason M Yonover
Conference Organization by Jason M Yonover
The lectures within the framework of the lecture series are intended to provide an introduction into the innovative thought of the two central philosophers of the German-Jewish Enlightenment: Moses Mendelssohn and Salomon Maimon. Two concepts of their philosophical systems, namely tolerance and scepticism, will gain centre stage. The main question that these lectures will address is the reciprocal relation between tolerance and scepticism, and in what way did both these thinkers take a stance in this regard. To answer this question, special attention will be drawn to the Jewish religion, inasmuch as it constitutes an elemental component of their Weltanschauungen.
The lectures within the framework of the lecture series are intended to provide an introduction into the innovative thought of the two central philosophers of the German-Jewish Enlightenment: Moses Mendelssohn and Salomon Maimon. Two concepts of their philosophical systems, namely tolerance and scepticism, will gain centre stage. The main question that these lectures will address is the reciprocal relation between tolerance and scepticism, and in what way did both these thinkers take a stance in this regard. To answer this question, special attention will be drawn to the Jewish religion, inasmuch as it constitutes an elemental component of their Weltanschauungen.