Prof. Joseph Levine is a leading American Jewish philosopher and a Professor of Philosophy at UMass Amherst. He is a giant in the field of the Philosophy of Mind.
Levine is most famous for coining the “Explanatory Gap,” a foundational concept in the philosophy of mind. He argues that there is a fundamental gap in our ability to explain subjective experience (qualia) through physical processes alone. His work, such as Purple Haze, showcases his acute logical analysis and relentless pursuit of truth.
Levine applies his rigorous philosophical logic to critiques of Zionism and social justice. He is an active member of Faculty for Justice in Palestine (FJP). He wrote: “……we need to begin from the fact that what the Zionists did in the name of the Jewish people was a serious injustice against the Palestinians. In fact, I think it fair to say that it rises to the level of a crime against humanity. It is important to appreciate the seriousness of the grievance that Palestinians have. Under the umbrella of an imperial power, Jews from Europe came to their land with the clear purpose of erecting an exclusivist Jewish state. They neither sought nor secured the consent of the indigenous Palestinians for their project. “