Sarah Pessin
Director of the Center for Judaic Studies
Emil and Eva Hecht Chair in Judaic Studies
Associate Professor of Philosophy
University of Denver
Sturm Hall
Phone: 303-871-7731
Email: spessin@du.edu

Recent Updates

Sarah has recently completed her book, Ibn Gabirol's Theology of Desire: Matter and Method in Jewish Medieval Neoplatonism. The book will be published by Cambridge University Press in 2013. Her new book project addresses intercultural methodologies for telling the history of philosophy in a more inclusive manner.

Continuing her work in medieval metaphysics, Sarah has just completed an essay on "Islamic and Jewish Neoplatonisms" for a new Neoplatonism sourcebook, and is currently working on an essay on the philosophical implications of matter in Islamic philosophy for a new volume, and an essay on the philosophy of Solomon Ibn Gabirol for a specialized anthology on mereology (viz. the philosophy of parts and wholes). In addition to serving as the recently-appointed editor for the Jewish philosophy section of a new medieval philosophy reader, Sarah is working with Richard Taylor (of Marquette University) to organize the upcoming Philosophy in the Abrahamic Traditions conference (July 10-13, 2013 at DU), an annual gathering of scholars of medieval philosophy that rotates each year between DU and Marquette University. Sarah also recently participated in medieval philosophy conference panels at University of Toronto (October 2012) and at the American Catholic Philosophical Association meeting (November 2012).

Continuing her work in modern Jewish thought, Sarah has just completed an invited auto-biographical reflection on the future of Jewish philosophy and theology for a new volume in her field, and she is currently working to complete an invited essay on apophatic Jewish theology for a new collection.

Continuing her work in relation to DU's new Holocaust Memorial Social Action Site, Sarah participated in talk-backs for two January performances of the Emperor of Atlantis (see CJS Scrapbook for more details). Sarah also shared some of her thoughts about the opportunities for inclusivity and inter-cultural bridge-building at the new Holocaust Memorial Social Action Site through her participation in a DU Enrichment Class in Spring 2013.

Education

PhD, The Ohio State University, Columbus