Czas w myśli i filozofii Abrahama Joshua Heschela

Abstract

Time as irreducible reality of existence is contemporarily analyzed mainly from the perspective of mathematics and biology science. Yet one may enquire whether or not it is the only possible way of interpretation. Can time be defined beyond materialistic concept, let’s say in the context of metaphysical questions? Has the time its transcendent reference? Jewish philosopher of religion Abraham Joshua Heschel who in all his works concentrated on Judaism and Bible deals with the problem of time in a very unique manner. In his reflections he treats the concept of time as a crucial element of God’s creation so to speak as a fundamental tool in realization of God’s will and freedom, divine intention and love. Significant not only on the level of relation to space and matter, but also and first of all – meaningful to human being and human spiritual and transcendent references, to purpose and sense of human existence and its condition. His time philosophy is mainly related to the sense, the source and the general aim of one’s being, what he calls himself „unspoken”. The one who speaks via what is „unspoken” is eventually God – the Creator.