Jewish Writings, 1910–1915

In the years 1910–1915 Cohen wrote on several topics related to Judaism and philosophy. One concerns the relationship between Kant’s philosophy and Judaism. Cohen argues that there is an inner affinity between them: that they show the same rationalism, the same ethics of duty, and the same devotion to autonomy. Another concerns the relationship between Spinoza and Judaism. Cohen now turns against Spinoza whom he once admired. He fears that Spinoza’s philosophy is giving aid to antisemitism because it offers the same interpretation of Judaism as the antisemites: both see Judaism as a strictly political doctrine having no abiding ethical ideals. During these years Cohen continues to defend Judaism against Christian misinterpretations, which claim that Judaism is a religion of the law rather than the spirit.