Fogel, Jeremy
Junior Fellow: April–September 2020
Research Project: Social Ataraxia: Mendelssohn’s Scepticism, Pluralism, and Moderation
On the one hand, Mendelssohn famously thought of scepticism as a “disease of the soul,” one which he himself experienced as a form of “torture.” On the other, his philosophy reflects a sceptical attitude towards metaphysics and the ability of our language to convey complex abstract ideas. How can this tension be resolved? In other words, if scepticism is such a “torture,” why does Mendelssohn still advocate a sceptical attitude? This research will explore the notion that while acute doubts about central aspects of religion are indeed nefarious on the personal level, Mendelssohn construes a sceptical attitude to be socially productive insofar as it enables and promotes pluralism and moderation. The aim of the project is therefore to explore the ways in which Mendelssohn’s scepticism enables such “social ataraxia”; how his sceptical thought enables pluralism and promotes moderation, thereby leading to social well-being. As such, it explores the dynamics between scepticism as a precursor to tranquillity and scepticism as a “disease of the soul” in an effort to delineate a characteristically nuanced Mendelssohnian position between these poles.
Jeremy Fogel teaches at Tel Aviv University and at Alma, lectures publicly on philosophy in various forums, and is also involved with various independent artistic and literary ventures.