Jewish Philosophy

This book explores the revival of Jewish philosophy, countering claims of its decline with contributions from various scholars, including insights on Maimonides and contemporary thought.

In the lecture titled Jewish Philosophy: An Obituary, Paul Mendes-Flohr remarked that Jewish philosophers appear to be dwindling in number. While this statement was made somewhat humorously at the end of the twentieth century, a similar sentiment was expressed more seriously at the beginning of the same century by Isaac Husik in his work, History of Medieval Jewish Philosophy (1916). Husik's conclusion lamented the absence of Jewish philosophers and Jewish philosophy, suggesting a bleak outlook for the field.

This volume serves as a modest yet significant contribution to the growing body of literature in Hebrew and other languages that showcases original thought and scholarly analysis. It challenges the notion that Jewish philosophy is on the decline, asserting that such obituaries are not only exaggerated but also premature. Husik's own research inadvertently sparked a revival in a discipline that he believed was nearing its end, much like the scholars of Wissenschaft des Judentums in the nineteenth century.

The collection features two symposia, one focusing on The Renaissance of Jewish Philosophy in America and the other on Maimonides on the Eternity of the World. In addition, it includes various studies on medieval Jewish philosophy and modern Jewish thought. The contributors to this anthology comprise a diverse group of scholars, including Leora Batnitzky, William A. Galston, and Paul Mendes-Flohr, among others, each adding their unique perspectives to the ongoing discourse surrounding Jewish Philosophy.