Jewish Philosophy in the Middle Ages (Emunot: Jewish Philosophy and Kabbalah) [Hardcover]

Raphael Jospe (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1934843091 | ISBN-13: 978-1934843093 | Publication Date: July 31, 2009

Jewish Philosophy in the Middle Ages presents an overview of the formative period of medieval Jewish philosophy, from its beginnings with Saadiah Gaon to its apex in Maimonides, when Jews living in Islamic countries and writing in Arabic were the first to develop a conscious and continuous tradition of philosophy. The book includes a dictionary of selected philosophic terms, and discusses the Greek and Arabic schools of thought that influenced the Jewish thinkers and to which they responded. The discussion covers: the nature of Jewish philosophy, Saadiah Gaon and the Kalam, Jewish Neo-Platonism, Bahya ibn Paqudah, Abraham ibn Ezra's philosophical Bible exegesis, Judah Ha-Levi's critique of philosophy, Abraham ibn Daud and the transition to Aristotelianism, Maimonides, and the controversy over Maimonides and philosophy.

Editorial Reviews

Review

''This volume is [a] great achievement. [Dr. Jospe's] book can be used as both a textbook and reference book because of its clear and extensive index of names and topics. Yet the clarity of the book's presentation and its readability make it a perfect introductory volume for a lay reader. His introductory chapter 'What is Jewish Philosophy' alone is worth the price of the book because it surveys the wide variety of approaches of Jewish philosophy. There is, as Dr. Jospe makes very clear, no single, uniform Jewish philosophy. Thus, many Jews who understand this, become confused, throw up their hands and ask, 'If so, what should I believe?' Jospe's excellent book helps people reach an answer.'' --Israel Drazen, The Jewish Eye

''Jospe (Bar-Ilan University/Hebrew University) offers an excellent overview of a formative period in medieval Jewish philosophy, from Saadia Gaon to its climax with Maimonides, when Jews living in Islamic lands and writing in Arabic developed a conscious philosophical tradition. He analyzes the Arabic and Greek schools of thought that influenced Jewish thinkers, and discusses important themes and people including Bahya ibn Paquda, Abraham ibn Ezra, Judah ha-Levi, and Abraham ibn Daud. Throughout, the author focuses on selected thinkers who represent important philosophical schools of thought and literary genres. Among the book's many useful features are the general introduction and helpful didactic charts, diagrams and tables. Included are comparative cross references, a good subject and name index, and two illuminating appendices. This book joins others in a group of excellent but very different scholarly treatments of Jeiwsh philosophy, including Isaac Husik's History of Medieval Jewish Philosophy (1916), Julius Guttmann's Philosophies of Judaism (1964) and Colette Sirat's History of Jewish Philosophy in the Middle Ages (1985). Jospe's book complements these works and moves the philosophical discussion along. Summing Up: Highly Recommended. Graduate students and above; general readers.'' --D.B. Levy, Touro College, Lander College for Women, published in CHOICE

About the Author

Raphael Jospe teaches Jewish Philosophy at Bar Ilan University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and served as editor of the Jewish Philosophy division of the Encyclopaedia Judaica (second edition). His Hebrew publications include a 3-volume history, Jewish Philosophy in the Middle Ages, and his English publications include Torah and Sophia: The Life and Thought of Shem Tov ibn Falaquera, and a 2-volume collection, Jewish Philosophy: Foundations and Extensions.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 620 pages
• Publisher: Academic Studies Press (July 31, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1934843091
• ISBN-13: 978-1934843093
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #922,337 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is an interesting comprehensive introduction to Jewish Philosophy, January 7, 2010

By 

Israel Drazin (Boca Raton, Florida) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Jewish Philosophy in the Middle Ages (Emunot: Jewish Philosophy and Kabbalah) (Paperback)

Dr. Raphael Jospe, a professor at Bar Ilan University and Hebrew University in Israel, is one of today's preeminent scholars of medieval philosophy, Greek, Muslim, Christian and Jewish. He is the author of several outstanding books on philosophy and numerous scholarly articles. This volume is another great achievement.

Dr. Jospe begins by describing Jewish philosophy and what prompted it by describing the ideas of the first Jewish philosopher whose writings still exist, the first century Philo Judaeus of Alexandria, Egypt. He then introduces his readers to all of the important Medieval Jewish philosophers, including Saadiah Gaon, Isaac Israeli, Solomon ibn Gabirol, Bachya ibn Paquda, Abraham ibn Ezra, Judah Ha-Levi, Abraham ibn Daud and, of course, the great Moses Maimonides.

Many ideological, theological and philosophical teachings affected Jewish philosophers. Jospe discuses and clarifies them. These include Kalam, a Muslim theology that impacted Saadiah Gaon, and Neoplatonism, a mystical outgrowth of Plato's philosophy that underlies many supposedly rational medieval philosophies.

Dr. Jospe introduces a half dozen generally unique features that are extremely useful.
* His book can be used as both a textbook and reference book because of its clear and extensive index of names and topics. Yet the clarity of the book's presentation and its readability make it a perfect introductory volume for a lay reader.
* Dr. Jospe is careful not to present only a single view. He surveys representative scholarly opinions when he interprets various points, and gives his readers a clear and colorful panorama of views.
* While the book focuses on the general history of Jewish philosophy and the specific ideas of a host of Jewish philosophers, Jospe talks about the Greek and Arabic backgrounds that stimulated the Jewish ideas, such as Aristotelianism, Neoplatonism and Kalam.
* He introduces charts that help make his subjects easy to understand. For example, he explains Isaac Israeli's cosmology on page 100 and Solomon ibn Gabirol's cosmology on page 114, and the spheres and the scheme of emanation in the appendices. It is important to know about these notions to understand medieval philosophy.
* He gives the Hebrew and the Arabic terms for the important philosophical concepts so that readers will be able to use his work as a handy reference when perusing other books on philosophy.
* His introductory chapter "What is Jewish Philosophy" alone is worth the price of the book because it surveys the wide variety of approaches of Jewish philosophy.

Dr. Jospe discusses many subjects, as they were understood by the various Jewish philosophers, such as what is the world to come, the messiah, the basic principles of Judaism, what is prophecy, why do many Jews reject Maimonides' philosophy, why are some Jews against any kind of philosophy, can faith and philosophy be reconciled, and what is it that men and women should strive to achieve in life.

There is, as Dr. Jospe makes very clear, no single, uniform Jewish philosophy. Thus, many Jews who understand this, become confused, throw up their hands and ask, "If so, what should I believe?" Jospe's excellent book helps people reach an answer.