Volume 67, Issue 4

Department in Focus Philosophy

by Zalman Abramchik

The fallacy of the slipped modal operator, the law of excluded middle, Anselm’s proof for the existence of G-d.  To outsiders, these postulates – whose very nature demands inscrutability –often beckon a big, bright red flag.  To members of the Yeshiva College philosophy department though, these theories are only the appetizer. 

Students at Yeshiva are often thought to be dodging philosophy classes, either because, one, they are esoteric or, two, because they are impractical.  While the first occasionally chimes with a chord of truth; the second certainly rings with falseness.

“The point of philosophy is to learn the truth about important matters,” explains Philosophy Professor Dr. David Johnson.  He went on to say that scrutinizing philosophical arguments logically, lays the groundwork for arriving at truth.  Johnson, therefore, regards formal logic as the primary tool for true philosophical pursuit, and refers to philosophers not trained in logic as “lost souls.”  Impractical? Probably not.  Esoteric?  Perhaps. 

Johnson, the only full time professor in the department, is only a board vote away from attaining tenure.  He received his B.A. from the University of Nebraska where he studied philosophy under the guidance of Dr. Robert Audi, the editor of The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy.  Among his entries in the dictionary, Johnson is most well known for his entry entitled “Grue Paradox,” a version of the problem of induction.  Johnson subsequently received his Ph.D. from Princeton University under the auspices of Dr. Gilbert Harmon, his dissertation advisor, and Dr. Saul Kripke, often referred to by Johnson as “the greatest living philosopher.”

Before coming to Yeshiva in 1996, Johnson taught in UCLA, University of Missouri, Syracuse University, and Ohio State University to name a few.  With such an eclectic background, when Johnson says that the “average ability of my students here is better than any other college I’ve taught in,” he is not to be taken lightly.  He attributes Yeshiva students’ acuity – they are particularly sensitive to analytic philosophy and to his unique method of exploring and dissecting arguments – to the duel curriculum and their frequent use of logic in studying Talmud.

Professor Shalom Carmy, a tenured professor in the Jewish Studies department, also teaches philosophy.  He generally teaches one secular philosophy course per year and deals with the “interface with other areas of humanities and Jewish Studies.”  Carmy explains that a students opting to major in philosophy will have his analytic thinking refined.  He also stressed that non-majors can attain some degree of acumen and will always be privy to interesting subject matter. 

Also teaching in the department is Rabbi Dr. Saul Roth (Rabbi of the Fifth Avenue Synagogue) and visiting professor, Dr. Alan Berger.  Berger, a tenured professor of philosophy at Brandeis University is teaching one class at Yeshiva this semester in order to alleviate the void left by the passing of longtime Philosophy Professor Dr. Walter Wurzberger.  Although Yeshiva was able to arrange for Berger to teach this semester, an Ethics class was canceled this semester.

The death of Wurtzberger, while not creating a new problem, did underscore an issue that has plagued the department for some time – namely shortage of professors.  “The department has been held together with band aides,” said Carmy.  “We have been running short for year.”  While both Carmy and Johnson say that there is a plan to hire another fulltime professor in the future, no timetable was given.

Yeshiva College Dean Dr. Norman Adler agrees that at least one more professor is needed, yet he explains that his hands are currently tied.  A new professor means an endowment of at least $2 million, and there are presently more pressing monetary concerns to fulfill, Adler said. 

One faculty member said that because of the philosophy department’s need for intellectual philosophy, continental philosophy, history of philosophy, and many other disciplines lacking within the field, it is difficult to take the department seriously.

While there does seem to be a void in the philosophy department, many students still gain from it.  There are approximately 10 philosophy majors in YC according to the Office of the Registrar, yet many of the philosophy classes exceed that number.

According to YC junior and philosophy major Edward Farbenblum, “for a small institution, it’s an incredibly broad department.  Philosophy gives the advantage of both teaching you how to think in a rigorous manner and is the most interdisciplinary major.”

YC sophomore Moshe Goodman, who plans on majoring in philosophy added, “Understanding ideas and how they play out is very important in order to develop one’s own ideas.”

Students in the philosophy department also have the added advantage of being able to foster personal relationships with their professors who give them a lot of personal time outside of class.  Johnson is known to give out his home phone number in case any student wishes to discuss philosophical matters with him at night, and often spends hours of his time outside class illuminating dense philosophical ideas.  Likewise, Carmy can oftentimes be found eating with students in the cafeteria casually discussing Kant, Descartes, or any other philosophical matter on a student’s mind. 

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