Abstract

This paper first advances a Kantian, and then a Levinasian critique of Johannes de Silentio’s admiration forAbraham’s faith in his Fear and Trembling. Kant and Levinas fear that Silentio’s praise for Abraham maybe misdirected. However, I propose that Kierkegaard’s authored text, Works of Love, helps us to understandthe story more fully. One goal of this paper is to advance a critical rereading of Silentio, Kierkegaard, Kant,and Levinas and their understandings of the first and second great commandments, in terms of loving Godand loving the neighbor. Another goal of this paper is to critically engage nineteenth century Christian and contemporary Jewish philosophies and theologies, and to explore their terrainsof convergence, specifically that to love God in the proper way is equivalent to loving one’s neighbor