Political Philosophy and the God of Abraham

by Thomas L. Pangle

Overview

In this book noted scholar Thomas L. Pangle brings back a lost and crucial dimension of political theory: the mutually illuminating encounter between skeptically rationalist political philosophy and faith-based political theology guided ultimately by the authority of the Bible. Focusing on the chapters of Genesis in which the foundation of the Bible is laid, Pangle provides an interpretive reading illuminated by the questions and concerns of the Socratic tradition and its medieval heirs in the Christian, Jewish, and Islamic worlds. He brings into contrast the rival interpretive framework set by the biblical criticism of the modern rationalists Hobbes and Spinoza, along with their heirs from Locke to Hegel. The full meaning of these diverse philosophic responses to the Bible is clarified through a dialogue with hermeneutic discussions by leading political theologians in the Judaic, Muslim, and Christian traditions, from Josephus and Augustine to our day. Profound and subtle in its argument, this book will be of interest not only to students and scholars of politics, philosophy, and religion but also to thoughtful readers in every walk of life who seek to deepen their understanding of the perplexing relationship between religious faith and philosophic reason.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780801873287
Publisher:	Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date:	08/29/2003
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.04(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Thomas L. Pangle holds the Joe R. Long Chair in Democratic Studies at the University of Texas at Austin and is a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. His many acclaimed publications include The Ennobling of Democracy: The Challenge of the Postmodern Age and Political Philosophy and the God of Abraham, both published by Johns Hopkins. He has also published a number of translations of Platonic dialogues, including The Laws of Plato and The Roots of Political Philosophy: Ten Forgotten Socratic Dialogues.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Chapter 1. The Twofold Account of Creation: and the Hermeneutical Problem
Chapter 2. Creation and the Meaning of Divine Omnipotence
Chapter 3. The Ontological Implications of the Unfolding of Creation, for Creatures and Creator
Chapter 4. Creation and Divine Solicitude for Mankind
Chapter 5. Creation and the Meaning of Good and Evil
Chapter 6. Pollution and Purgation
Chapter 7. Abram from the Calling to the Covenant
Chapter 8. Abraham at the Peak
Chapter 9. Kierkegaard's Challenge
Conclusion

What People are Saying About This

Hillel Fradkin

The dialogue between philosophic rationalism and faith-based wisdom is here brought back to life with a depth and intensity that is unique in contemporary thought and discourse.

— Hillel Fradkin, President, Ethics and Public Policy Center

From the Publisher

Like all of Thomas Pangle's work, Political Philosophy and the God of Abraham is stunningly erudite and discerning. Pangle makes splendid use of the great commentators and critics, listening to voices as diverse as the Rashi, Maimonides, Ibn Ezra, Calvin, Spinoza, and Kierkegaard, but Pangle's argument is very much his own. He is intellectually relentless, wrestling with titanic questions, arguing with elegance and clarity.
—Wilson Carey McWilliams, Rutgers University

The dialogue between philosophic rationalism and faith-based wisdom is here brought back to life with a depth and intensity that is unique in contemporary thought and discourse.
—Hillel Fradkin, President, Ethics and Public Policy Center

Wilson Carey McWilliams

Like all of Thomas Pangle's work, Political Philosophy and the God of Abraham is stunningly erudite and discerning. Pangle makes splendid use of the great commentators and critics, listening to voices as diverse as the Rashi, Maimonides, Ibn Ezra, Calvin, Spinoza, and Kierkegaard, but Pangle's argument is very much his own. He is intellectually relentless, wrestling with titanic questions, arguing with elegance and clarity.

— Wilson Carey McWilliams, Rutgers University

Editorial Reviews

His goal is ambitious—nothing less than to reinvigorate what he describes as 'the encounter between political philosophy and the Bible' at the highest intellectual level.
—Ralph C. Hancock, First Things

Noted scholar Thomas L. Pangle discusses the mutually illuminating encounter between skeptically rationalist political philosophy and faith-based political theology guided ultimately by the authority of the Bible.
—Shofar

An enticing introduction to the richly provocative debate about fundamental questions of faith raised among the Bible's greatest students—Augustine and Aquinas, Ibn Ezra and Maimonides, al-Ghazali and Averroes, Luther and Calvin—and an array of writers from ancient and modern philosophical traditions as well . . . No one who follows Pangle's investigation could fail to be moved by the weight and force of the deeply serious moral world of the Bible.
—Weekly Standard

A far more sophisticated and erudite, but by no means less passionate, plea for the restitution of the Biblical vision of world order than is observable amongst the American evangelical right is found in Thomas Pangle's Political Philosophy and the God of Abraham . . . A tribute to the resources of the religious intellect.
—Muslim World

Pangle takes the reader on a fascinating tour of a period in Western intellectual history when modernist philosophy takes its leave of biblical authority.
—Choice

Of all his excellent books, Pangle seems to have taken the greatest care in writing Political Philosophy and the God of Abraham. Every sentence, every phrase, every word counts.
—Claremont Review of Books

This wise book is of considerable merit and importance.
—James V. Schall, Review of Metaphysics

From the Publisher

His goal is ambitious—nothing less than to reinvigorate what he describes as 'the encounter between political philosophy and the Bible' at the highest intellectual level.

First Things - Ralph C. Hancock

A far more sophisticated and erudite, but by no means less passionate, plea for the restitution of the Biblical vision of world order than is observable amongst the American evangelical right is found in Thomas Pangle's Political Philosophy and the God of Abraham . . . A tribute to the resources of the religious intellect.

Muslim World

Pangle takes the reader on a fascinating tour of a period in Western intellectual history when modernist philosophy takes its leave of biblical authority.

Choice

Like all of Thomas Pangle's work, Political Philosophy and the God of Abraham is stunningly erudite and discerning. Pangle makes splendid use of the great commentators and critics, listening to voices as diverse as the Rashi, Maimonides, Ibn Ezra, Calvin, Spinoza, and Kierkegaard, but Pangle's argument is very much his own. He is intellectually relentless, wrestling with titanic questions, arguing with elegance and clarity.
— Rutgers University

Wilson Carey McWilliams

The dialogue between philosophic rationalism and faith-based wisdom is here brought back to life with a depth and intensity that is unique in contemporary thought and discourse.
— President, Ethics and Public Policy Center

Hillel Fradkin

This wise book is of considerable merit and importance.

Review of Metaphysics - James V. Schall

Of all his excellent books, Pangle seems to have taken the greatest care in writing Political Philosophy and the God of Abraham. Every sentence, every phrase, every word counts.

Claremont Review of Books

An enticing introduction to the richly provocative debate about fundamental questions of faith raised among the Bible's greatest students—Augustine and Aquinas, Ibn Ezra and Maimonides, al-Ghazali and Averroes, Luther and Calvin—and an array of writers from ancient and modern philosophical traditions as well . . . No one who follows Pangle's investigation could fail to be moved by the weight and force of the deeply serious moral world of the Bible.

Weekly Standard

Noted scholar Thomas L. Pangle discusses the mutually illuminating encounter between skeptically rationalist political philosophy and faith-based political theology guided ultimately by the authority of the Bible.

Shofar

This wise book is of considerable merit and importance.

— James V. Schall

Review of Metaphysics

His goal is ambitious—nothing less than to reinvigorate what he describes as 'the encounter between political philosophy and the Bible' at the highest intellectual level.

— Ralph C. Hancock

First Things