Repercussions of the Kalam in Jewish Philosophy

by Harry Austryn Wolfson

Overview

In his monumental Philosophy of the Kalam the late Harry Wolfson—truly the most accomplished historian of philosophy in our century—examined the early medieval system of Islamic philosophy. He studies its repercussions in Jewish thought in this companion book—an indispensable work for all students of Jewish and Islamic traditions.

Wolfson believed that ideas are contagious, but that for beliefs to catch on from one tradition to another the recipients must be predisposed, susceptible. Thus he is concerned here not so much with the influence of Islamic ideas as with Jewish elaboration, adaptation, qualification, and criticism of them. To this end he examines passages reflecting Kalam views by a wide variety of Jewish thinkers, including Isaac Israeli, Judah Halevi, Abraham ibn Ezra, and Maimonides. As always in Wolfson's work, two aspects are apparent: the special dimensions of Jewish thought as well as its relation to other traditions. And as always his prose is both graceful and precise.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780674761759
Publisher:	Harvard University Press
Publication date:	03/21/1979
Pages:	254
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.38(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Harry Austryn Wolfson was Nathan Littauer Professor of Hebrew Literature and Philosophy, Emeritus, Harvard University.

Table of Contents

1. ATTRIBUTES AND TRINITY

1. AL—MUKAMMAS

2. SAADIA

3. KIRKISANI

4. JOSEPH AL—BASIR

5. JOSEPH IBN SADDIK

6. JTJDAH HADASSI

7. MAIMON IDES

2. THE SEMANTIC ASPECT OF THE PROBLEM OF ATTRIBUTES

1. AL—MUKAMMAS

2. SAADIA

3. JOSEPH AL—BASIR

4. JOSEPH lEN SADDIK

5. JUDAH HALEVI

6. MAIMONIDES

3. CHRISTOLOGY

4. THE PRE—EXISTENT KORAN AND THE PRE—EXISTENT LAW

1. MINOR MIDRASHIM

2. SAADIA

3. KIRKISANI

4. JOSEPH AL—BASIR

5. JUDAH BEN BARZILLAI

6. JTJDAH HALEVI

7. ABRAHAM IBN EZRA

8. JUDAH HADASSI

9. MAIMONIDES

5. PRE—EXISTENT THRONE, AND CREATED WILL

1. PRE—EXISTENT THRONE

2. CREATED WILL

6. UNAPPROVED THEORIES OF CREATION

1. PLATO'S PRE—EXISTENT ETERNAL MATTER ATOMIZED

2. THE ETERNAL AIR OF ANAXIMENES EMANATIONALIZED

3. THE ETERNAL WATER OF A PARTLY NEOPLATONIZED THALES ATOMIZED

4. DUALISM

5. THE FOUR ELEMENTS OF EMPEDOCLES

6. THE INFINITE OF ANAXIMANDER

7. THE ARISTOTELIAN ETERNITY OF THE WORLD

8. EPICUREAN ATOMISM AND CHANCE

9. THE DAHRIYYAH'S ETERNITY OF THE WORLD AND WHO THE DAHRIYYAH WERE

10. THE "KNOW-NOTHINGISM" OF PROTAGORAS, PYRRHO, AND CARNEADES

7. THEORY OF ATOMS

8. CAUSALITY

1. SAADIA AND BAHYA

2. JUDAH HALEVI AND ABRAHAM IBN DAUD

3. MAIMONIDES

4. JOSEPH AL—BASIR AND JESHUA BEN JUDAH

5. IMPOSSIBILITIES

9. FREE WILL

1. MAIMONIDES' RESTATEMENT OF THE MUTAKALLIMUN'S VIEWS ON PREDESTINATION AND FREE WILL

2. THE ANTINOMIES OF FREE WILL

INDEX