T. M. Rudavsky - Böcker

T. M. Rudavsky presents a new account of the development of Jewish philosophy from the tenth century to Spinoza in the seventeenth, viewed as part of an ongoing dialogue with medieval Christian and Islamic thought. Her aim is to provide a broad historical survey of major figures and schools within the medieval Jewish tradition, focusing on the tensions between Judaism and rational thought. This is reflected in particular philosophical controversies across a wide range of issues in metaphysics, language, cosmology, and philosophical theology. The book illuminates our understanding of medieval thought by offering a much richer view of the Jewish philosophical tradition, informed by the considerable recent research that has been done in this area.

T. M. Rudavsky presents a new account of the development of Jewish philosophy from the tenth century to Spinoza in the seventeenth, viewed as part of an ongoing dialogue with medieval Christian and Islamic thought. Her aim is to provide a broad historical survey of major figures and schools within the medieval Jewish tradition, focusing on the tensions between Judaism and rational thought. This is reflected in particular philosophical controversies across a wide range of issues in metaphysics, language, cosmology, and philosophical theology. The book illuminates our understanding of medieval thought by offering a much richer view of the Jewish philosophical tradition, informed by the considerable recent research that has been done in this area.

The first volume in this comprehensive work is an exploration of the history of Jewish philosophy from its beginnings in antiquity to the early modern period, with a particular emphasis on medieval Jewish thought. Unlike most histories, encyclopedias, guides, or companions of Jewish philosophy, this volume is organized by philosophical topic rather than by chronology or individual figures. There are sections on logic and language; natural philosophy; epistemology, philosophy of mind, and psychology; metaphysics and philosophical theology; and practical philosophy. There are also chapters on the intellectual background of Jewish philosophy, including Islamic and Greek thought and the Jewish philosophical textual traditions. With essays by leading scholars in the field, this volume provides the reader with a wonderful overview of the richness and sophistication of Jewish philosophy in its golden age.

This pioneering guide to Maimonides incorporates material from his philosophical, legal, and medical works, thus providing a synoptic picture of the philosophical views of one of the most important Jewish thinkers of all time. The book covers a broad range of topics, including divine predication, proofs for the existence of God, Maimonides’ theory of creation, prophecy and miracles, the problem of evil and divine providence, moral theory and the rationality of the law. Rudavsky makes a persuasive case that Maimonides saw himself as being engaged in philosophical dialogue, drawing not only upon his own Jewish tradition, but also upon the ideas of ancient Greek and Islamic philosophers. Unparalleled in scope and accessibility, this concise volume is an invaluable resource for students and scholars of Medieval Philosophy, Jewish Philosophy, and Jewish Studies, as well as non-specialists coming to Maimonides for the first time.