Synopsis
Explore how medieval Jewish thinkers solved the puzzle of God’s attributes and essence. This scholarly work surveys major theories from Maimonides to Crescas, showing how philosophers distinguished universal predicates, divine simplicity, and the relation between God and creation. It explains why many thinkers treat divine predicates as non-tautological and how language tries to capture an unknowable divine reality.
Using close readings and historical context, the volume traces arguments about whether universals can apply to God without implying plurality, and how different authorities interpret negation, identity, and causation in divine discourse. The discussion moves through Arabic and Jewish philosophical traditions to illuminate divergent paths within Crescas’ approach and its predecessors.
Readers will see how key questions are framed and debated: Are divine attributes real properties or mere terms of discourse? Can predicates be both identical with God and applicable to created beings? What distinguishes God’s essence from His attributes in language and logic?
- Clear explanations of major positions, including Avicenna, Averroes, Gersonides, and Halavi.
- Discussion of universal predicates, linguistic usage, and the problem of divine simplicity.
- Insight into Crescas’ distinctive account within the historical conversation.
- Connections to early modern debates on religion, logic, and metaphysics.
Ideal for readers of philosophy of religion, medieval thought, and Jewish philosophy who want a concise, grounded overview of this influential topic.
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Product Description
Excerpt from Crescas on the Problem of Divine Attributes, Vol. 1 of 7
It is as a problem of Universals in disguise that the problem of Attributes will be herein presented. I shall therefore forego the discussion of the lexicographical and exegetical aspect of the problem, namely, the enumeration of all the Attributes found in the Bible, and their explanation by Jewish philosophers, the object of this paper being to discuss the general principles underlying the problem and its solution. AS part of a larger work upon the philosophy of Crescas, it deals more fully with that author. The two chapters devoted to him are intended both to present a con structive View of his theory and to serve as a commentary on his text. They are preceded by a chapter devoted to a general treatment of certain representative authors advisedly selected for their value as an introduction to the study of Crescas.
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Crescas on the Problem of Divine Attributes, Vol. 1 of 7 (Classic Reprint)
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Paperback. Condition: New. Print on Demand. This book analyzes the problem of divine attributes in medieval Arabic and Jewish philosophy, particularly in the work of Maimonides. The problem arises due to the tension between ascribing attributes to God and maintaining God's simplicity and unity. The author traces the problem's origins in Greek philosophy, its treatment by early Muslim theologians, and its development in the thought of Avicenna, who identified God with necessary existence. The author examines Maimonides' critique of Avicenna and his own theory of attributes, which interprets them as dynamic relations that do not imply plurality in the divine essence. The book also explores the views of other Jewish philosophers, such as Averroes, Gersonides, and Moses Halavi, on this issue. Ultimately, the book sheds light on the complex and multifaceted nature of medieval philosophical inquiry into the nature of God, highlighting the interplay of reason, revelation, and the search for a deeper understanding of the divine. This book is a reproduction of an important historical work, digitally reconstructed using state-of-the-art technology to preserve the original format. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in the book. print-on-demand item. Seller Inventory # 9781331933212_0
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Condition: Hervorragend. Zustand: Hervorragend | Seiten: 50 | Sprache: Englisch | Produktart: Bücher | Keine Beschreibung verfügbar. Seller Inventory # 26030279/1