Distinguished Professor Spotlight: Prof. Arnold I. Davidson
Meet Arnold Davidson, Distinguished Professor of Humanities at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Known for his insatiable intellectual curiosity, Davidson’s career trajectory is as eclectic as it is remarkable. In a candid and reflective interview, he offers insights into his intellectual journey, highlighting some of his past, present, and future research interests and endeavors. Through thought-provoking discourse, Davidson shares compelling philosophical and theological perspectives on themes such as the Shoah (Holocaust), self-transformation, and existential choice.
Written by: Keri Rosenbluh
Arnold Davidson’s journey into academia took an unconventional turn early on. Having suffered a debilitating injury to his left hand in his youth (the first manifestation of a rare bone disease), Davidson spent most of his teenage years cultivating what would become a lifelong passion for learning. “My hand, which prohibited me from doing many other things, created a situation in which all I could do was read. And so, I did, constantly. My injury shaped the trajectory of my life significantly,” he reflects.
After several years of immersing himself in extensive reading, Davidson commenced his bachelor’s degree studies at Georgetown University. Several weeks in, it became evident to his dean and professors that his advanced knowledge surpassed the undergraduate curriculum. He was encouraged by his mentors to bypass his undergraduate studies and proceed directly to a master’s degree.
Davidson’s intellectual journey led him to the exploration of diverse themes, from literature to music and psychology, eventually finding his home in philosophy. “For me, philosophy is a way of doing everything,” he explains. “If I’m interested in art, I’ll turn to the philosophy of art; if it’s science, I’ll explore the philosophy of science, and so forth.”
From Georgetown, he continued on to Harvard University where he not only earned his PhD, but also had the privilege of studying under “the most extraordinary philosophers of the time.”
Thus began his illustrious career, marked by tenures and visiting professorships at prestigious institutions worldwide, including Stanford University, Harvard University, Princeton University, University of Chicago, University of Pisa, University Ca'Foscari Venice, École Normale Supérieure, and Université de Paris— Sorbonne, among others. Notably, in 2021, the French government promoted Davidson to the highest rank, Commandeur, in the Ordre des Palmes Académiques, in recognition of his contribution to the teaching and promotion of French thought and culture.
Throughout his career, Davidson’s scholarly pursuits have defied conventional categorization. “People have always asked, ‘What exactly does Davidson do?’ And my answer has always been, ‘Whatever I’m interested in, that’s what I do,” he notes with amusement. Whether delving into French philosophy, religion, the history of sexuality, jazz, the Shoah, or practices of self-transformation, Davidson describes his eclectic pursuits as a means of keeping himself intellectually vibrant, cultivating his intellectual curiosity. He spent the majority of his career at the University of Chicago, where he held tenured professorships in five different departments. “This meant that I could move with ease from philosophy to the divinity school, from romance languages to comparative literature, or even the history of science, following my intellectual interests wherever they led.”
Currently, Davidson’s attention is directed toward his recent collaboration with French colleague Philippe Mesnard on the publication of “The Last Consolation Vanished,” a critical edition and the first complete English translation of a prisoner’s account of life and death in Auschwitz, beautifully translated by Rubye Monet. Authored by Zalmen Gradowski in a 120-page Yiddish manuscript written while in Auschwitz, the book offers a singularly haunting narrative that defies the conventions of Holocaust literature. “It is unlike any other book you will read about the Shoah,” Davidson emphasizes.
Zalmen Gradowski, a prisoner in the Sonderkommando, faced the unthinkable task of leading his fellow prisoners to the gas chambers and transporting their bodies to the crematoria. Day after day, despite enduring unimaginable horrors, Gradowski meticulously detailed his experience, bearing witness to the atrocities within the camp. In a final act of spiritual resistance, he buried the handwritten pages under the ashes of Birkenau.
One of the distinguishing features of Gradowski’s manuscript is its composition in Auschwitz, offering a firsthand account in real time, as opposed to a retrospective reflection. Davidson notes the profound implications of Zalmen Gradowski’s resistance in Auschwitz, both spiritual and armed, culminating in his participation in the destruction of a crematorium on October 7th, 1944. While Gradowski was killed on that fateful day, the enduring significance of his spiritual resistance, evidenced in his buried manuscript, persists.
Davidson underscores the importance of engaging both emotionally and intellectually with Holocaust narratives, recognizing the necessity of identifying with those who lived through Auschwitz, while at the same time fostering critical thought and action. Through his teaching and research, he seeks to provoke transformative thought, challenging students to confront the haunting legacy of the Shoah and its implications for contemporary society. As for the emotional difficulty of processing Holocaust-related material, Davidson admits, “Knowledge doesn’t always lead to joy.”
This spring, Davidson will be offering a course to Hebrew University students on the “Philosophical Theology of the Shoah” through the Faculty of Humanities’ Department of Jewish Thought. By exploring the profound philosophical and theological ramifications of the Shoah, the course will consider how it reshapes discourse surrounding Judaism and its conception of God. In analyzing the writings of survivors, philosophers, and authors such as Primo Levi, Davidson seeks to understand how the unprecedented horrors of the Shoah impact conceptions of divine providence, consolation, and Jewish faith.
Davidson raises challenging questions: “What happens to the concept of divine providence in the aftermath of the Shoah? Are we to believe that it was God’s will, that it was for our ultimate good? And, if so, what implications follow? What happens to the concept of consolation when reading Gradowski’s manuscript? Can anyone ever truly find consolation again after something as unlivable as Auschwitz?” He emphasizes the necessity of grappling with these complex questions, asserting that the Shoah demands universal contemplation and study: “However difficult and heartrending these questions are, they are absolutely necessary, and without addressing them we are not doing the work we should be doing.”
Through his course, Davidson aims to foster a deeper understanding of the ethical, existential, and theological dilemmas posed by the Holocaust, urging individuals of diverse backgrounds, irrespective of their expertise or their personal connection to the Holocaust, to confront its implications for humanity as a whole. “These are things that human beings need to and ought to talk about. I want this to be something that – even when my students leave the classroom – lingers in their thoughts in a way they can’t shake off, compelling them to continue contemplating.”
Another topic that has captured Davidson’s attention is the intersection of philosophy and self-transformation, drawing inspiration from the works of two of his esteemed late colleagues who became his genuine friends, Pierre Hadot and Michel Foucault. Taking up the idea of practicing philosophy as a way of life, Davidson aims to explore the never-ending commitment to self-improvement. With a focus on exercises of self-transformation within Judaism and beyond, he examines various philosophical, religious, and literary texts to uncover the ideals and virtues they advocate. Davidson considers the transformative potential of religious practices and the value they bring to one’s life, while underscoring the perpetual quest for self-improvement and a virtuous life that is inherent in the spirit of Judaism. “In Judaism,” he explains, “there is always more to do.”
Davidson and his wife, Diane Brentari, moved to Israel amidst the Covid pandemic, officially making aliyah, and becoming Israeli citizens. The two currently teach at Hebrew University. When asked about their decision to relocate, he candidly shares, “I want to be in an environment where I continuously have things to learn. And I do learn here, every time I meet a student, and every time I engage in conversation with a colleague in the Department of Jewish Thought.”
In describing his experience teaching Israeli students, Davidson notes their penchant for lively debate, a trait he considers crucial for philosophical inquiry. “If you are going to be a philosopher, you had better like to argue—about everything.” He encourages students to express their own opinions rather than echo his views, fostering an environment of diverse perspectives and intellectual exchange. According to Davidson, “Getting students to talk to each other, even when they come from different backgrounds, is a real pedagogical achievement.”
Moreover, Davidson notes that, according to many Talmudic scholars, what’s prized most about one’s intellect is asking a new question, and not simply finding a new answer. Time and again he encounters this same intellectual curiosity at Hebrew University, where students are inclined to ask novel questions, contributing to a very enthusiastic and satisfying teaching experience.
Here in Jerusalem, Davidson finds himself developing courses he’s never taught in his 40 years in academia. “At this point in my career, I don’t want to be teaching the same courses I’ve taught for decades. On the contrary, I want to teach courses that challenge me and offer fresh perspectives.” When asked what he will be teaching next year, Davidson does not disappoint. “I have absolutely no idea. Ask me next year.”
To learn more about Prof. Arnold I. Davidson, visit here.