Philosopher and Prophet

Judah Halevi, the Kuzari, and the Evolution of His Thought

By Yochanan Silman | Publisher: State University of New York Press

About the book

This book is the first to describe the development of Halevi's thought with a view to reaching a better understanding of its inherent systematic difficulties, as well as enabling identification of the various strata of the book belonging to different periods in his philosophical development.

The first part describes a kind of Aristotelian philosophy which seems to be espoused by Halevi himself before writing the Kuzari. The second part concerns itself with his early thought as expressed in certain parts of the Book of Kuzari. At this stage his thought is still faithful to the essentials of the Aristotelian philosophy and its primary function is to combat Karaism. Intra-systematic and extra-systematic difficulties peculiar to this thought give rise to the next stage in the development of his philosophy, which is described in the third part. This later thought is also distinguished by its strong emphasis on concrete human experience. During this period, Halevi retreats from many principles of Aristotelianism, and his major intention is to justify his new position. The fourth part deals with the dialectical unity of the Kuzari which is also reflected by the literary genre of this book as story and dialogue.

Editions of Philosopher and Prophet

Hardcover
ISBN 9780791424612
Paperback
ISBN 9780791424629
PDF
ISBN 9781438420004

Read an Excerpt

This book is the first to describe the development of Halevi's thought with a view to reaching a better understanding of its inherent systematic difficulties, as well as enabling identification of the various strata of the book belonging to different periods in his philosophical development.

The first part describes a kind of Aristotelian philosophy which seems to be espoused by Halevi himself before writing the Kuzari. The second part concerns itself with his early thought as expressed in certain parts of the Book of Kuzari. At this stage his thought is still faithful to the essentials of the Aristotelian philosophy and its primary function is to combat Karaism. Intra-systematic and extra-systematic difficulties peculiar to this thought give rise to the next stage in the development of his philosophy, which is described in the third part. This later thought is also distinguished by its strong emphasis on concrete human experience. During this period, Halevi retreats from many principles of Aristotelianism, and his major intention is to justify his new position. The fourth part deals with the dialectical unity of the Kuzari which is also reflected by the literary genre of this book as story and dialogue.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Philosopher and Prophet about?

This book is the first to describe the development of Halevi's thought with a view to reaching a better understanding of its inherent systematic difficulties, as well as enabling identification of the various strata of the book belonging to different periods in his philosophical development.

The first part describes a kind of Aristotelian philosophy which seems to be espoused by Halevi himself before writing the Kuzari. The second part concerns itself with his early thought as expressed in certain parts of the Book of Kuzari. At this stage his thought is still faithful to the essentials of the Aristotelian philosophy and its primary function is to combat Karaism. Intra-systematic and extra-systematic difficulties peculiar to this thought give rise to the next stage in the development of his philosophy, which is described in the third part. This later thought is also distinguished by its strong emphasis on concrete human experience. During this period, Halevi retreats from many principles of Aristotelianism, and his major intention is to justify his new position. The fourth part deals with the dialectical unity of the Kuzari which is also reflected by the literary genre of this book as story and dialogue.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Philosopher and Prophet?

History and Archaeology > History > History: specific events and topics > Social and cultural history

Where can I read a sample of Philosopher and Prophet?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780791424612

How long is Philosopher and Prophet and how many pages does it have?

Philosopher and Prophet has 370 page(s)

Is Philosopher and Prophet part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?

Yes it is a part of series SUNY series in Judaica: Hermeneutics, Mysticism, and Religion

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Philosopher and Prophet?

Yochanan Silman

Who is the Publisher of the book Philosopher and Prophet?

State University of New York Press

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Philosopher and Prophet is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780791424612) and paperback(ISBN 9780791424629) and pdf(ISBN 9781438420004)

Where can I buy Philosopher and Prophet online or support local independent bookshops?

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Where can I buy Philosopher and Prophet?