A Guide to TheGuide to the Perplexed
GBP 94.00
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ISBN13: | 9781503629530 |
ISBN10: | 1503629538 |
Binding: | Hardback |
No. of pages: | 270 pages |
Size: | 229x152 mm |
Weight: | 666 g |
Language: | English |
700 |
In this volume, noted philosopher Lenn E. Goodman shares the insights gained over a lifetime of pondering the meaning and purpose of Maimonides' celebrated Guide to the Perplexed. Written in the late twelfth century, Maimonides' Guide aims to help religiously committed readers who are alive to the challenges posed by reason and the natural sciences to biblical and rabbinic tradition. Keyed to the new translation and commentary by Lenn E. Goodman and Phillip I. Lieberman, this volume follows Maimonides' life and learning and delves into the text of the Guide, clearly explaining just what Maimonides means by identifying the Talmudic Ma'aseh Bereshit and Ma'aseh Merkavah with physics and metaphysics (to Maimonides, biblical cosmology and theology). Exploring Maimonides' treatments of revelation, religious practice and experience, law and ritual, the problem of evil, and the rational purposes of the commandments, this guide to the Guide explains the tactics Maimonides deployed to ensure that readers not get in over their heads when venturing into philosophical deep waters.
"With complete mastery of the source languages, professional knowledge of ancient and medieval philosophies, yet equally at home in contemporary philosophical discourse, Lenn E. Goodman is uniquely qualified to present an authoritative survey of Maimonides' achievement. His fluid and eloquent writing delivers Maimonides' deliberations and decisions in a manner accessible to a wide audience."?Tzvi Langermann, Bar-Ilan University
Two Notes to the Reader
Introduction
Part I: Building Blocks
1. Setting the Scene
2. Learning
3. Cairo
4. A New Life
5. Believing
Part II: The Work of the Guide
6. Defining the Issues
7. Problematics
Part III: Esoterics
8. The Esoteric Style
9. Not Philosophy?
10. Breadcrumbs
Conclusion: The Guide Today
Notes
Bibliography