Maimonides’ Political Thought: Studies in Ethics, Law, and the Human Ideal

374 Pages·1999·28 MB·English

by  Howard Kreisel

Maimonides' Political Thought
SUNY Series in Jewish Philosophy
Kenneth Seeskin, Editor
MAIMONIDES'
POLITICAL THOUGHT
Studies in Ethics, Law, and the Human Ideal
Howard Kreisel
STATE UNIVERSITY
OF NEW YORK PRESS
And he planted a tamarisk in Beer-Sheva,
and there he called out in the Name of God,
Lord of the World.
GENESIS 22:33
For Shoshanah
Published by
State University of New York Press, Albany
© 1999 State University of New York
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Kreisel, Howard T. (Howard Theodore)
Maimonides' political thought : studies in ethics, law, and the
human ideal I Howard Kreisel.
p. cm. - (SUNY series in Jewish philosophy)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-7914-4189-X (alk. paper). - ISBN 0-7914-4190-3 (pbk. :
alk. paper)
1. Maimonides, Moses, 1135-1204. 2. Political science
-Philosophy. 3. Philosophy, Jewish. 4. Philosophy, Medieval.
5. Intellect-Religious aspects-Judaism. 6. Common good.
7. Perfection-Religious aspects-Judaism. 8. Ethics, Jewish.
9. God (Judaism) I. Title. II. Series.
B759.M34K74 1999
320' .092-dc21 99-13651
CIP
2345678910
CONTENTS
Acknowledgments ix
ONE
Maimonides' Political Thought: Introductory Essay /
TWO
The Practical Intellect / 63
THREE
The Concept "Good" I 93
FOUR
lmitatio Dei /125
FIVE
The Problem of Contradictions in Maimonides'
Approach to Ethics / 159
SIX
Intellectual Perfection, Knowledge of God,
and the Role of the Law I 189
SEVEN
The Love and Fear of God I 225
Appendix: Synopsis of the Book I 267
Notes I 277
Select Bibliography / 339
Index I 353