Description
Book SynopsisHuman civilization will be forever indebted to the great thinkers of Jewish philosophy's golden age. Moses Maimonedes, Levi Gersonides, Judah Halevi, Saadia Gaon, Hasdai Crescas and their like grappled with some of the most challenging metaphysical issues, while the profundity of their solutions continue to engage philosophers today. Did God create the world? Can human freedom be reconciled with divine foreknowledge? What is the nature of the good life?Focusing on the central philosophical questions of the Middle Ages, Daniel Rynhold offers a concise introduction to topics such as God and creation, human freewill, biblical prophecy, the Commandments, the divine attributes and immortality. Structured around themes that form the common 'syllabus' of medieval Jewish philosophy, each chapter builds a debate around a particular topic and in so doing utilises the arguments of the chief philosophical figures of the medieval era. Explaining all concepts in a clear, non-technical fashion, the book also provides suggestions for further reading at the end of each chapter. The first dedicated textbook to introduce the great richness of medieval Jewish philosophy as a whole, this lively and comprehensive survey is the ideal introduction for undergraduate students of the subject as well as the interested general reader.
Trade Review'Daniel Rynhold's fine volume explains - with a light touch and an occasional dash of humour - a variety of philosophical problems, as seen by modern and well as medieval thinkers with either religious or non-religious commitments. He clarifies the resolutions proposed for each problem by Saadia, Maimonides, Judah Halevi, Gersonides and Crescas, and reconstructs the discussions that might have taken place had they lived in the same periods and places. All credit to the author for producing a textbook that will be found clear and useful by lay readers, as well as students and scholars of religion, Jewish studies and medieval philosophy.'- Stefan C Reif, Emeritus Professor of Medieval Hebrew Studies, University of Cambridge.
