Synopses & Reviews
Each volume of this series of companions to major philosophers contains specially commissioned essays by an international team of scholars, together with a substantial bibliography, and serves as a reference work for students and nonspecialists. One aim of the series is to dispel the intimidation such readers feel when faced with the work of a difficult and challenging thinker. Moses ben Maimon, known to English speaking audiences as Maimonides (1138-1204), represents the high point of Jewish rationalism in the middle ages and played a pivotal role in the transition of philosophy from the Islamic East to the Christian West. His greatest philosophical work The Guide of the Perplexed had a decisive impact on all subsequent Jewish thought and is still the subject of intense scholarly debate. An enigmatic figure in his own time, Maimonides continues to defy simple attempts at classification. The twelve essays in this volume, all by leaders in their respective fields, offer a lucid and comprehensive treatment of his life and thought. They cover the sources on which Maimonides drew, his contributions to philosophy, theology, jurisprudence, and Bible commentary, as well as his esoteric writing style and influence on later thinkers.
Synopsis
This companion volume contains twelve essays by leading scholars on the life, thought, and influence of one of Judaism's greatest thinkers: Moses Maimonides (1138-1204). Philosopher, Rabbi, Bible commentator, physician, Talmudic expositor and social commentator, Maimonides wrote on subjects that touch every aspect of life. No other Jewish thinker from this period is still read with such intense interest or has aroused as much controversy. These essays discuss the problems he encountered and lay out the depth and breadth of his contribution to philosophical thought.
Synopsis
These essays discuss the problems Maimonides encountered and lay out the depth and breadth of his contribution.
Synopsis
Moses ben Maimon, known to English speaking audiences as Maimonides (1138-1204), represents the high point of Jewish rationalism in the middle ages and played a pivotal role in the transition of philosophical interest from the Islamic East to the Christian West. His greatest philosophical work, The Guide of the Perplexed had a decisive impact on all subsequent Jewish thought and is still the subject of intense scholarly debate. The twelve essays in this volume by recognized scholars offer a comprehensive interpretation of his life and thought.
About the Author
Kenneth Seeskin is a Professor of Philosophy at Northwestern University and winner of the Koret Jewish Book Award. He is the author of Jewish Philosophy in a Secular Age, Maimonides: A Guide for Today's Perplexed, No Other Gods: The Modern Struggle Against Idolatry, Searching for a Distant God: The Legacy of Maimonides, and Autonomy in Jewish Philosophy.
Table of Contents
1. Moses Maimonides: an intellectual portrait Joel Kraemer; 2. The Guide and Maimonides' philosophical sources Alfred L. Ivry; 3. Metaphysics and its transcendence Kenneth Seeskin; 4. Maimonides' epistemology Josef Stern; 5. Maimonides' philosophy of sciences Gad Freudenthal; 6. Maimonides' moral theory David Shatz; 7. Maimonides' political philosophy Haim Kreisel; 8. Jurisprudence David Novak; 9. Bible commentary Sara Klein-Braslavy; 10. Spiritual life Menachem Kellner; 11. Maimonides' esotericism and educational philosophy Aviezer Ravitsky; 12. Maimonides: a guide for posterity Seymour Feldman.