Re-envisioning the Evil Eye: Magic, Optical Theory, and Modern Supernaturalism in Jewish Thought

Abstract This essay is a case study in the modern emergence of the “supernatural.” I argue that pre-modern understandings of the evil eye were predominantly naturalistic, based on extramissionist, haptic concepts of vision. The need to believe in the evil eye first arises when sight becomes universa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of jewish studies
Main Author: Chajes, J. H. 1965- (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: Brill 2021
In: European journal of jewish studies
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Judaism / Evil eye / The Supernatural / Magic
IxTheo Classification:AB Philosophy of religion; criticism of religion; atheism
AG Religious life; material religion
BH Judaism
Further subjects:B extramission
B Magic
B Kabbalah
B Evil Eye
B Supernatural
B history of science
B Rabbinic Literature
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Summary:Abstract This essay is a case study in the modern emergence of the “supernatural.” I argue that pre-modern understandings of the evil eye were predominantly naturalistic, based on extramissionist, haptic concepts of vision. The need to believe in the evil eye first arises when sight becomes universally understood as the result of light entering rather than emerging from the eyes. In the Jewish context, rabbis then begin to develop alternative explanations for its existence and efficacy. These novel etiologies were, for the first time, supernatural. Furthermore, an under-appreciated consequence of the emergence of the modern category of the supernatural is here revealed: rather than signifying the opprobrium of rejected knowledge, for certain religious communities, its embrace has come to represent spiritual conviction.
ISSN:1872-471X
Contains:Enthalten in: European journal of jewish studies
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1163/1872471X-11411098