Rethinking ethics in the light of Jewish thought and the life sciences

Judaism in the twentieth century began to return to its scriptural, communa l roots after a centuries-long detour through Greek-influenced natural phil osophy, a detour during which science and ethics were assumed to be partner s and Jewish ethics drew heavily on natural philosophy and science. Twentie th-century philosophical ethics and science, particularly biological scienc e, have developed in such a way as to make any continuation of that histori cal partnership problematic. This is not altogether regrettable because the problematizing of this long-standing partnership has driven Jewish ethics back to its real roots: covenantal relationship, and moral wisdom and disce rnment.