Abstract
Two of Judaism's greatest philosophers were Philo of Alexandria (c. 20BCE-50CE) and Saadia ben Joseph (882-942). As the first, who in fluenced the development of Christian dogma, is the only Jewish Hellenistic philosopher from whom a body of work has survived, and the second can be considered the father of medieval Jewish philosophy, a comparison is of import.
Highlights
Two of Judaism's greatest philosophers were Philo of A lexandria, known as Philo Judaeus, and Saadia ben Joseph, o r Saadia Gaon
In o rd e r to pu t them in th e ir histo ric context, it must be mentioned that Philo of Alexandria (c. 20BCE-50CE), a proponent of Hellenistic Greek philosophy, "is the only Jewish H ellenistic philosopher from whom a body of works has s u rv iv e d " (K atz, 1975:10)
Guttman (1973:69) points o ut th a t Saadia was the f ir s t to develop the ideas of Islamic theology and philosophy inde pen de ntly, and was the prim e pioneer in u n de rta king a systematic philosophical ju stifica tio n of Judaism
Summary
Two of Judaism's greatest philosophers were Philo of A lexandria, known as Philo Judaeus, and Saadia ben Joseph, o r Saadia Gaon. Philosophy, "is the only Jewish H ellenistic philosopher from whom a body of works has s u rv iv e d " (K atz, 1975:10). F urtherm ore, he "g re a tly in fluenced the development of C h ristia n dogma" (M argolis & M arx, 1980:186; cf Marcus, 1948:29), w ith Eusebius, Jerome, Justin M a rty r, Clement of Alexandria and Ambrosius all being indebted to him On the o th e r hand, Saadia Gaon (882-942) can "be considered the fa th e r of medieval Jewish philosophy of religion" (Guttmann, 1973:69). Guttman (1973:69) points o ut th a t Saadia was the f ir s t to develop the ideas of Islamic theology and philosophy inde pen de ntly, and was the prim e pioneer in u n de rta king a systematic philosophical ju stifica tio n of Judaism. Like all w rite rs , n e ith e r philosopher was e n tire ly o rig in a l, b u t was in fluenced by others
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