Jewish Philosophy: The Basics

1. Auflage 2025
ISBN: 978-1-032-82325-6
Verlag: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Buch, Englisch, 294 Seiten, Format (B × H): 129 mm x 198 mm

Reihe: The Basics

This book introduces students and interested readers to two thousand years of Jewish philosophy, from its earliest inception to the current era. Fourteen chapters cover major figures in the medieval, modern and contemporary periods, as well as important themes and topics that have been part of Jewish thought for centuries. Questions and topics covered include:

- What is Jewish philosophy?

- At what point does the introduction of secular knowledge dilute, destroy, or even strengthen the basic teachings found in Jewish sources?

- Is it possible to harmonize the domains of science and religion?

- How can philosophy be married to a particular religious tradition?

Containing a comprehensive list of authors, as well as suggestions for further reading at the end of each chapter, Jewish Philosophy: The Basics offers an excellent starting point for anyone seeking an engaging and accessible introduction to the rich content of Jewish philosophy.

Key Features and Benefits

- Covers traditional topics in Jewish philosophy, with an emphasis on philosophers’ struggles to reconcile faith and reason. These topics include the existence and nature of God, prophecy, miracles and divine providence, the problem of evil, nationalism, Jewish mysticism, and the status of women

- Clearly explains the important contributions from historical and contemporary thinkers, like Judah Halevi, Moses Maimonides, Baruch Spinoza, Moses Mendelssohn, Martin Buber Joseph Soloveitchik and many others

- Emphasizes the interactions with the secular intellectual world upon Jewish philosophy, ranging from the rediscovery of Aristotle in the medieval world, to the rise of modern science, as well as the importance of modern thinkers including Descartes, Kant, Hegel, Heidegger and others.

- Provides an overview of contemporary issues in Jewish philosophy, including Zionism and the status of women in Judaism.

Zielgruppe

Academic, General, Undergraduate Advanced, and Undergraduate Core

Autoren/Hrsg.

Rudavsky, T. M.

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Geschichte der Westlichen Philosophie Westliche Philosophie: Neuzeit
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Moderne Philosophische Disziplinen Existenzphilosophie, Lebensphilosophie
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Geschichte der Westlichen Philosophie Mittelalterliche & Scholastische Philosophie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction  Part I: Medieval and Early Modern Jewish Philosophy  1. The Greek and Rabbinic Heritage 2. Searching for Union with God: The Neoplatonist Quest 3. Jewish Kalâm and Aristotelianism 4. God, Creation and Miracles 5. Evil and Divine Omniscience: Why do the innocent suffer? 6. Practical Morality: Living a Good Life  Part 2. Modern Jewish Philosophy: Fifteenth Century to the Present  7. Prelude to Modernity 8. Is There a Right Way to Read Scripture? 9. The Eighteenth Century Enlightenment 10. The Idealist Turn 11. Jewish Existentialism 12. Philosophy of Dialogue 13. Belief and the Holocaust 14. Contemporary Issues: Zionism and Gender Equality 15. Concluding Postscript

Über Autor(innen)

T.M. Rudavsky is Professor of Philosophy (emerita) at The Ohio State University, USA. Recent publications include co-editor, along with S. Nadler, of the Cambridge History of Jewish Philosophy (2009), Maimonides (2010), and Jewish Philosophy in the Middle Ages: Science, Rationalism and Religion (2018).