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This classic work by early-20th-century Jewish humanist and scholar Isaac Heinemann surveys the crucial phases of Jewish thought concerning correct conduct as codified in the commandments. Heinemann provides his own systematic insights about the intellectual, emotional, pedagogical, and pragmatic reasoning advanced by the major Jewish thinkers. This volume covers Jewish thinkers from the Bible, rabbis and Hellenistic philosophers through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, including Saadiah, Halevi, Maimonides, Albo, and many others. Heinemann addresses such questions as: "What were the Biblical, rabbinic, medieval, and modern rationales offered for the commandments in the course of Jewish thought?"
List of contents
The Reason for the Mitzvot. Author's Preface to First Edition (1942). Translator's Preface. 1. The Nature of Question. 2. The Biblical View. 3. The Views of the Rabbis. 4. The Views of the Hellenistic Jews. 5. Views of the Medieval Philosophers. 6. Saadia Gaon. 7. Bahya ben Joseph Ibn Pakudah. 8. Rabbi Judah Halevi. 9. Abraham Ibn Ezra. 10. Abraham Ibn Daud. 11. Maimonides. 12. Gersonides. 13. Hasdai Crescas. 14. Joseph Albo. 15. Don Isaac Abravanel. 16. Summary of the Medieval Thinkers. 17. Principal Conclusions. Abbreviations. Notes. Glossary. Index.
About the author
Isaac Heinemann (1876-1957) was one of the leading Jewish humanists and scholars of the early 20th century. His career spanned the golden age of Jewish scholarship in central Europe and the rise of Jewish studies in modern Israel. He was a leading authority in Hellenistic and rabbinic studies, writing major studies of Philo of Alexandria and the rabbinic lore (Agada). Leonard Levin teaches Jewish philosophy at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York.
Summary
This classic work by early-20th-century Jewish humanist and scholar Isaac Heinemann surveys the crucial phases of Jewish thought concerning correct conduct as codified in the commandments. It includes Heinemann's insights into the intellectual, emotional, pedagogical, and pragmatic reasoning advanced by the major Jewish thinkers.
