{"product_id":"9780786165988","title":"Maimonides and Medieval Jewish Philosophy","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe first significant Jewish philosopher is recognized as \u003cb\u003ePhilo\u003c\/b\u003e (ca 13 BC - 45\/50 AD), who lived in Alexandria, Egypt. His biblical commentaries (written in Greek) powerfully influenced Christian philosophy; in fact, Philo is considered the forerunner of \"biblical exegesis,\" a Christian tradition of critically explaining and interpreting scripture. Philo said the lower, \u003ci\u003elitera\u003c\/i\u003el level of interpretation applies to the perfection of the body, while the higher \u003ci\u003eallegorical\u003c\/i\u003e or \u003ci\u003esymbolic\u003c\/i\u003e level applies to the perfection of the soul. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSa'adia ben Joseph al-Fayyumi\u003c\/b\u003e (892-942) preserved and enlivened a dying Jewish tradition by translating the Hebrew Bible (\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Torah\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e) into Arabic. He wrote polemics in response to sectarian Jews; pedagogical works as head of the Academy in Sura, Babylonia; and philosophical works, including \u003ci\u003eThe Book of Doctrines and Beliefs\u003c\/i\u003e. Sa'adia argued that the four roots of knowledge are the \u003ci\u003esenses, reason, inference,\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003ereliable tradition\u003c\/i\u003e, and he said there can be no real conflict between reason and revelation. Sa'adia wrote that complete or reliable knowledge of the divine is not available to humans, so we must rely on speculative inquiry about the highest and most valuable aspects of knowledge. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eMoses ben Maimon\u003c\/b\u003e (1138-1204), popularly known as Maimonides, was a physician, jurist, philosopher and spiritual authority for exiled Jewish communities. Maimonides believed that the \u003ci\u003eprophets\u003c\/i\u003e were most perfectly knowledgeable, but he also admired \u003cb\u003eAristotle\u003c\/b\u003e and the Islamic philosopher\u003cb\u003e \u003ci\u003eal-Farabi\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e. He insisted that God is a perfect, incorporeal unity that has no attributes at all; to speak of God's characteristics, features, or attributes is idolatry. Humans cannot know what God \u003ci\u003eis\u003c\/i\u003e; we can only know what God \u003ci\u003eis not\u003c\/i\u003e, and that there is a radical distinction between God and human beings. Maimonides defended a theory of creation \u003ci\u003eex nihilo\u003c\/i\u003e (or \"out of nothing\"), arguing that a provident, omniscient God uniquely created \"first matter.\" Maimonides associated eternity and immortality with \u003ci\u003epermanent intellect\u003c\/i\u003e, which he said is perfectible when unconstrained by human mortality.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Knowledge Products, Inc.","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47094881419504,"sku":"9780786165988","price":9.91,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/9780786165988_p0.jpg?v=1763664697","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/9780786165988","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}