Jewish Philosophy in the Middle Ages

Abstract

The purpose of this volume is to provide an account of how medieval Jewish philosophy, from the tenth century to Spinoza, forms part of an ongoing dialogue with medieval Christian and Islamic thought. It provides a corrective to available works, and a supplement to available histories of philosophy, many of which devote little space to Jewish philosophy. The focus of this work is on the tensions between Judaism and rational thought, as reflected in particular philosophical controversies arising in the context of issues in metaphysics, rationalism, language, cosmology, science, faith and reason, and philosophical theology. Much new research has occurred in these latter areas, and so it is important to introduce readers to the rich discussions found in medieval Jewish philosophical texts. The aim of this book is twofold: to provide a broad historical survey of major figures and schools within the medieval Jewish tradition, and to focus more narrowly on the importance and challenge of rationalist discourse within this tradition.