Leo Strauss on Maimonides: The Complete WritingsLeo Strauss is widely recognized as one of the foremost interpreters of Maimonides. His studies of the medieval Jewish philosopher led to his rediscovery of esotericism and deepened his sense that the tension between reason and revelation was central to modern political thought. His writings throughout the twentieth century were chiefly responsible for restoring Maimonides as a philosophical thinker of the first rank. Yet, to appreciate the extent of Strauss’s contribution to the scholarship on Maimonides, one has traditionally had to seek out essays he published separately spanning almost fifty years. With Leo Strauss on Maimonides, Kenneth Hart Green presents for the first time a comprehensive, annotated collection of Strauss’s writings on Maimonides, comprising sixteen essays, three of which appear in English for the first time. Green has also provided careful translations of materials that had originally been quoted in Hebrew, Arabic, Latin, German, and French; written an informative introduction highlighting the original contributions found in each essay; and brought references to out-of-print editions fully up to date. The result will become the standard edition of Strauss’s writings on Maimonides. |
Contents
Editors Introduction | 1 |
Why Study Medieval Thinkers? | 89 |
II On Maimonides | 117 |
III On Isaac Abravanel the Last Medieval Maimonidean | 577 |
Appendix | 615 |
Abbreviations | 619 |
Sources and History of the Texts | 627 |
633 | |
647 | |
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Common terms and phrases
Abravanel according actually added appeared Arabic Aristotle assertion attributes become beginning believe Bible biblical called chap chapter character Cohen commandments complete concerning consider criticism critique discussion divine doctrine edition especially essay ethics existence explain expression fact first God’s Guide Hebrew hence human imaginative important intellect interpretation Jewish king knowledge least lecture Logic Maimonides Maimonides7 matter meaning medieval mention merely mind miracles Mishneh Moses natural notes occurs ofthe opinion original passage perfect perhaps philosophy Pines Plato political position possible precisely present Press principle prophecy prophet providence question readers reason refers regard relation religion revelation secret seems sense sentence speaking Spinoza statement Strauss suggest teaching things thought tion Torah tradition trans translation Treatise true truth understanding University whole Writings