Natural law in Judaism / David Novak.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Novak, David, 1941- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Jewish law--Philosophy.

Jewish law.

Natural law.

Jewish ethics.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xii, 210 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 1998.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This 1998 book presents a theory of natural law, significant for the study of Judaism, philosophy and comparative ethics. It demonstrates that the assumption that Judaism has no natural law theory to speak of is simply wrong. The book shows how natural law theory, using a variety of different terms for itself throughout the ages, has been a constant element in Jewish thought. The book sorts out the varieties of Jewish natural law theory, illuminating their strengths and weaknesses. It also presents a case for utilizing natural law theory in order to deal with theological and philosophical questions in Judaism's ongoing reflection on its own meaning and its meaning for the wider world. David Novak combines great erudition in the Jewish tradition, the history of philosophy and law, and the imagination to argue for Judaism in the context of current debates, both theoretical and practical.

Contents:

1. The challenge of modern secularity

2. Scriptural foundations

3. Jewish ethics and natural law

4. Maimonides' teleology of the law

5. Natural law and created nature

6. Noahide law and human personhood

7. Conclusion.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0-511-58284-6

0-511-00616-0