Description
Book SynopsisVolume Two of Jewish Philosophy: Foundations and Extensions deals with major thinkers. Interpreting Judah Ha-Levi discusses misunderstandings of his idea, and his impact on Jewish thought, especially his theories of Jewish uniqueness and the superiority of oral communication. Interpreting Maimonides examines the problematic structure of his Guide of the Perplexed, tensions in his ethical and political theory, and his radical approach to the book of Job. Philosophy, Mysticism and Astrology explores the fluid boundaries among these fields, and how rationalist philosophers were interested in non-philosophical questions. From Medieval to Modern Jewish Thought: Moses Mendelssohn demonstrates how this transitional figure, though indebted to medieval thought, also formulated a radical and pluralistic modern political philosophy.
Table of ContentsChapter 1 Preface Chapter 2 Introduction Part 3 Part I: On Interpreting Judah Ha-Levi Chapter 4 1. Teaching Judah Ha-Levi: Defining and Shattering Myths in Jewish Philosophy Chapter 5 2. Jewish Particularity from Judah Ha-Levi to Mordecai Kaplan: Implications for Defining Jewsih Philosophy Chapter 6 3. The Superiority of Oral over Written Communication: Judah Ha-Levi's Kuzari and Modern Jewish Thought Part 7 Part II: Interpreting Maimonides Chapter 8 4."The Garden of Eden": On the Chapter Divisions and Literary Structure of the Guide of the Perplexed Chapter 9 5. Rejecting Moral Virtue as the Ultimate Human End Chapter 10 6. The Book of Job as a Biblical "Guide of the Perplexed" Part 11 III: Philosophy, Mysticism, and Astrology Chapter 12 7. Early Philosophical Commentators on the Sefer Yezirah: Some Comments Chapter 13 8. The Torah and Astrology According to Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra Chapter 14 9. Nahmanides and Arabic Part 15 IV: From Medieval to Modern Jewish Thought: Moses Mendelssohn Chapter 16 Moses Mendelssohn: A Medieval Modernist Chapter 17 Index
