An Introduction to Medieval Jewish Philosophy (International Library of Historical Studies)

Daniel Rynhold

ISBN 10: 1845117484 / ISBN 13: 9781845117481

Published by I.B. Tauris & Company, Limited, 2009

About this Item

Seller Inventory # 261309788

Bibliographic Details

• Title: An Introduction to Medieval Jewish Philosophy (International Library of Historical Studies)
• Publisher: I.B. Tauris & Company, Limited
• Publication Date: 2009
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1845117484
• ISBN 13: 9781845117481
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

Human 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.

About the Author

Daniel Rynhold is Assistant Professor of Modern Jewish Philosophy at Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies, Yeshiva University, New York. He has held teaching positions at King's College London and the London School of Jewish Studies, and is the author a previous book entitled Two Models of Jewish Philosophy: Justifying One's Practices (2005).