Explore how medieval Jewish thinkers solved the puzzle of God’s attributes and essence. This scholarly work surveys major theories from Maimonides to Crescas, showing how philosophers distinguished universal predicates, divine simplicity, and the relation between God and creation. It explains why many thinkers treat divine predicates as non-tautological and how language tries to capture an unknowable divine reality.
Using close readings and historical context, the volume traces arguments about whether universals can apply to God without implying plurality, and how different authorities interpret negation, identity, and causation in divine discourse. The discussion moves through Arabic and Jewish philosophical traditions to illuminate divergent paths within Crescas’ approach and its predecessors.
Readers will see how key questions are framed and debated: Are divine attributes real properties or mere terms of discourse? Can predicates be both identical with God and applicable to created beings? What distinguishes God’s essence from His attributes in language and logic?
- Clear explanations of major positions, including Avicenna, Averroes, Gersonides, and Halavi.
- Discussion of universal predicates, linguistic usage, and the problem of divine simplicity.
- Insight into Crescas’ distinctive account within the historical conversation.
- Connections to early modern debates on religion, logic, and metaphysics.
Ideal for readers of philosophy of religion, medieval thought, and Jewish philosophy who want a concise, grounded overview of this influential topic.