In this erudite new work, Elliot R. Wolfson explores philosophical gnosis in the writings of Susan Taubes, Gillian Rose, and Edith Wyschogrod. The juxtaposition of these three extraordinary, albeit relatively neglected, philosophers provides a prism through which Wolfson scrutinizes the interplay of ethics, politics, and theology. The bond that ties together the diverse and multifaceted worldviews promulgated by Taubes, Rose, and Wyschogrod is the mutual recognition of the need to enunciate a response to the calamities of the twentieth century based on an incontrovertible acknowledgment of the decadence and malevolence of human beings, without, however, succumbing to acrimony and despair. The speculation of each of these philosophers on melancholia and the tragicomedy of being is unquestionably intricate, exhibiting subtle variations and idiosyncrasies, but we can nevertheless identify a common denominator in their attempt to find the midpoint positioned between hope and hopelessness. As Wolfson articulates, Taubes, Rose, and Wyschogrod exemplify a philosophical sensibility informed by a nocturnal seeing, which is not merely a seeing in the night but rather a seeing of the night. Ultimately, the book reveals the potential for these thinkers' ideas to enhance our moral sensitivity and to encourage participation in the ongoing struggle for meaning and decency in the present.

Praise for the previous edition:" ... provide[s] a good background for anyone interested in the subject ... easy to use."

On Long Island's northeastern shore lie two towns, close in proximity but centuries apart in their perceptions of reality. When a young boy from Arlin Point is introduced into Lissa Loeb's East Hastings Primary School class, the gap between the towns suddenly narrows and Lissa's life is forever changed. Drawn to mysterious Arlin Point by concerns for the boy's well-being, she encounters the town's strange populace and uncovers a shocking scheme that only she and her sole ally, a retired chief of police, are willing to confront. Soon Lissa comes face to face with the unbelievable truth - the dead don't die in Arlin Point, and events of the past will soon decide the future of East Hastings.

Vols. 54-55 include abstracts of papers presented at its 60th-61st Annual meeting, 1964-65.