Medieval Jewish intellectuals living in Muslim and Christian lands were strongly concerned to recover what they regarded as a ‘lost’ Jewish philosophical tradition. As part of this project they transmitted and produced many philosophical and scientific works and commentaries, as well as philosophical commentary on scripture, in Judaeo-Arabic and Hebrew, the principal literary languages of medieval Jewry. This volume presents new or revised translations of seven prominent medieval Jewish rationalists: Saadia Gaon, Solomon ibn Gabirol, Moses Maimonides, Isaac Albalag, Moses of Narbonne, Levi Gersonides, Hasdai Crescas and Joseph Albo - including, for the first time in English, the complete Falaquera abridgement of Gabirol's Source of Life. These works range over topics that are both theological (e.g. the creation of the world) and philosophical (e.g. determinism and free choice), but they are characterized by two overarching principles: the unity of truth, and its accessibility to human reason.

Medieval scholars have long ignored the philosophical work of medieval Jewish scholars due to the lack of ability to read Hebrew. Manekin, of the University of Maryland, has translated excerpts from several of the most important philosophers, from Sa'adia Gaon in the ninth century to Joseph Albo in the fifteenth. He differentiates between "pure" philosophy and that dealing with religion. Therefore, scholars such as David Luria and Nachmanides are not included. Maimonides is, however, because he wrote in both fields. The introduction provides as context for the translations. A timeline and short biographies of the authors are also included. This book would be particularly of use in university classes in medieval philosophy or Jewish history. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

'This volume presents new or revised translations of Saadia Gaon, Solomon ibn Gabirol, Moses Maimonides, Isaac Albalag, Moses of Narbonne, Levi Gersonides, Hasdai Crescas and Joseph Albo. Their texts range over topics that are both theological (e.g. the creation of the world) and philosophical (e.g. determinism and free choice).\n

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Presents new or revised translations of seven prominent medieval Jewish rationalists covering topics both theological and philosophical.