Short description:

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. 

Long description:

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.

"This is an excellent volume on Jewish philosophy that will cover an important array of topics and thinkers. Such a volume will serve a real interest to graduate and undergraduate students as well as general readers with an interest in the history of Jewish thought. The author of the volume is an experienced scholar expert in the field, with her expertise being broad, extending from early medieval philosophy to the early modern period." 

-- Steven Nadler, Professor, Department Of Philosophy, University Of Wisconsin, Madison, USA. ????

"Prof. Tamar Rudavsky, a prominent scholar of medieval Jewish philosophy has written an intelligent and engaging introduction to Jewish philosophy organized thematically. This book is a welcome addition to the literature and will be of great benefit to students."

-- Menachem Kellner, Wolfson Professor of Jewish Thought Emeritus, University of Haifa, Israel.

"In the grand tradition of Isaac Husik and Julius Guttmann, Tamar Rudavsky has produced a sweeping history and thematic treatment of Jewish philosophy for our time that is both an intellectually rigorous and compelling narrative. Holding that Jewish philosophy emerges from the conflict between philosophical rationalism and Jewish belief, Rudavsky takes her readers through the works both of well-known thinkers such as Maimonides, Spinoza, Buber, and Levinas as well as lesser-appreciated figures such as Ibn Da?ud, Nachman Krochmal, and Vladimir Jankelevich. This book will be a welcome addition for both students and scholars alike."

-- Jeffrey A. Bernstein, Professor of Philosophy at College of the Holy Cross, USA. 

Table of Contents:

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