The Theory and Practice of Universal Ethics – the Noahide Laws
Rabbi Dr Shimon Cowen
Insitute for Judaism and
Civilization: NY and Melbourne, 2014 / 386 pp
I was excited to have received a copy of this book. It is definitely required reading for philosophers and theologians of all types. Very, very thorough. Below is an excerpt from the book's promotional material. AE
The Noahide laws – the seven
laws in which all humanity must observe - have become a matter of wide
importance both for Jews and their intended recipients, the non-Jewish world.
Rabbi Dr Shimon Cowen has
performed an important dual task in his new book, The Theory and Practice of
Universal Ethics – the Noahide Laws, the product of many years of research
and writing. The first part, the “Theory of Universal Ethics”, undertakes the
“marketing task” of universal ethics: how the Noahide laws can be presented to
an intelligent, non-Jewish public from a variety of perspectives: theological,
philosophical, religious, psychological and social and political. The second
part, the “Practice of Universal Ethics” actually sets out the concrete
practice and requirements of the conduct of the Noahide laws.
The main text of the book is
written in a manner accessible to the educated non-Jew, whilst the footnotes
contain sources for the Jewish scholar. The book is of value to a Jew, to know
the content of the Noahide laws, and how these may be communicated; and it can
also be confidently placed in the hands of a non-Jew.
This hardback book,
handsomely designed and published in the US under the imprint of the Institute
for Judaism but distributed by www.kehot.com is available from all major
online booksellers.