Philosopher and prophet : Judah Halevi, the Kuzari, and the evolution of his thought / Yochanan Silman ; translated from the Hebrew by Lenn J. Schramm.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Silman, Yochanan.

Series:

SUNY series in Judaica

SUNY series in Judaica: Hermeneutics, Mysticism, and Religion

Standardized Title:

Ben filosof le-navi. English

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Judah, ha-Levi, active 12th century. Kitāb al-ḥujjah.

Judah.

Jewish philosophy.

Philosophy, Medieval.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (x, 370 pages)

Place of Publication:

Albany : State University of New York Press, c1995.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

"This book is the first to describe the development of Halevi's thought with a view to reaching a better understanding of its inherent systematic difficulties, as well as enabling identification of the various strata of the book belonging to different periods in his philosophical development." "The first part describes a kind of Aristotelian philosophy which seems to be espoused by Halevi himself before writing the Kuzari. The second part concerns itself with his early thought as expressed in certain parts of the Book of Kuzari. At this stage his thought is still faithful to the essentials of the Aristotelian philosophy and its primary function is to combat Karaism. Intra-systematic and extra-systematic difficulties peculiar to this thought give rise to the next stage in the development of his philosophy, which is described in the third part. This later thought is also distinguished by its strong emphasis on concrete human experience. During this period, Halevi retreats from many principles of Aristotelianism, and his major intention is to justify his new position. The fourth part deals with the dialectical unity of the Kuzari which is also reflected by the literary genre of this book as story and dialogue."--Jacket

Contents:

Front Matter

Front Cover

Half Title Page

Title Page

Copyright Page

Table Of Contents

PREFACE

Contents

THE PHILOSOPHER'S THOUGHT

ARISTOTELIAN PHILOSOPHY IN THE KUZARI

DIVINITY AND INDIVIDUATION

FORM AND MATTER

ARISTOTELIAN ANTHROPOLOGY

HUMAN ACTIVITY

HALEVI'S EARLIER THOUGHT

INTRODUCTION TO THE EARLIER THOUGHT

THE THEOLOGY OF THE EARLY THOUGHT

ANTHROPOLOGY IN THE EARLIER THOUGHT

THE HISTORICAL DIMENSION IN THE EARLIER THOUGHT

THE JEWISH PEOPLE,THEIR COMMANDMENTS, AND THEIR UNIQUENESS IN THE EARLIER THOUGHT

ERETZ ISRAEL AS THE CHOSEN LAND

AN OVERVIEW OF HALEVI'S EARLIER THOUGHT

HALEVI'S LATER THOUGHT

INTRODUCTION: UNIQUE FEATURES

HUMAN EXPERIENCE AND THE DIVINE PRESENCE

GOD AND THE WORLD

THE LATER ANTHROPOLOGY

HISTORY IN THE LATER THOUGHT

THE JEWISH PEOPLE, THEIR COMMANDMENTS, AND THEIR UNIQUENESS IN THE LATER THOUGHT

AN OVERVIEW OF HALEVI'S LATER THOUGHT

THE UNITY OF THE KUZARI

INTRODUCTION: THE STRUCTURE OF THE BOOK AND ITS UNITY

THEOLOGY ANDANTHROPOLOGY

FORM AND CONTENT IN THE KUZARI

Back Matter

THE GIVING OF THE TORAH AND COMMANDMENTS AS A PROCESS

BIBLIOGRAPHY

INDEX OF TOPICS AND NAMES

INDEX OF PASSAGES CITED.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references (p. 345-347) and index.

ISBN:

9781438420004

1438420005

9780585066899

0585066892

OCLC:

45731608