Jewish Philosophy: An Historical Introduction / Edition 1

by Norbert Samuelson

Overview

jewish Philosophy: An Historical Introduction surveys the history of Jewish philosophy, from the formation of the Hebrew Scriptures to the present time. The author discusses the nature of God, the origin and end of the universe, and the moral value of humanity, all from the distinct perspective of Jewish intellectual history. The book is intended as a text for courses in Jewish philosophy, as well as for more general courses in religious thought, Judaism, and philosophy, but presupposes no prior background in these subjects. Each chapter concludes with sets of key terms and questions, along with recommendations for further reading. Norbert M. Samuelson is the Harold and Jean Grossman Professor in Religious Studies at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. He is the author of six books and over 200 articles, and the co-editor of three collected volumes of essays.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780826492449
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	09/19/2006
Series:	Continuum Collection
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	352
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.74(d)

About the Author

Norbert M. Samuelson is the Harold and Jean Grossman Professor in Religious Studies at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. He is the author of six books and over 200 articles, and the co-editor of three collected volumes of essays.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
I. The Origins
The Hebrew Scriptures
2. Biblical history: the story of the Hebrew Scriptures
3. What is the Bible and how was it created?
4. The God of the Bible
5. The biblical conception of Torah
6. The conception of Israel as the Chosen People
7. The biblical view of God
 
Early Rabbinic Literature
8. Rabbinic history: from Alexander the Great to Muhammad
9. Major texts of rabbinic Judaism
10. The God of the early rabbis
11. The Torah of the early rabbis
12. The Jewish people of the early rabbis
13. The rabbinic view of ethics
 
II. Classical Jewish Philosophy
Jewish Philosophy before Maimonides
14. Medieval history: from the rise of Islam to the expulsion from Christian Spain
15. Major texts and themes of Jewish philosophy
The Philosophy of Maimonides
16. The composition of The Guide of the Perplexed
17. God and the Bible
18. Creation and revelation
19. Divine providence
20. The reason for the Commandments
 
Jewish Philosophy after Maimonides
21. The rationalism of Gersonides
22. The non-rationalism of Crescas
 
III. Modern Jewish Philosophy
Jewish Philosophy before Rozenzweig
23. Modern history: from Christian Spain to secular Israel
24. The turbaning point - Baruch Spinoza
25. Cohen and Jewish idealism
26. Buber and Jewish existentialism
 
The Philosophy of Rosenzweig
27. The elements: God, world, and the human
28. The course: creation, revelation, and redemption
29. The configuration: Jewish people, Christian way, and the Kingdom of God
 
Conclusion
30. Jewish philosophy after Rosenzweig