The studies comprising this volume, most of them appearing for the first time in English, deal with some of the main topics in Maimonides' philosophy and that of his followers in Provence. At the heart of these topics lies the issue of whether they adopted a completely naturalistic picture of the workings of the world order, or left room for the volitional activity of God in history. These topics include divine law, creation, the Account of the Chariot, prophet and sage, Mosaic prophecy, reasons for the commandments, and prayer. Special attention is paid to three lesser known but highly significant Provençal Jewish thinkers: Moses Ibn Tibbon, Levi ben Avraham, and Nissim ben Moses of Marseille.

Review This collection of papers from the Academy for Jewish Philosophy...is striking evidence to the fact that Jewish philosophy is alive and well....Read and enjoy!>>>> (Paul M. Van Buren Shofar) ...a welcome addition to the somewhat scanty corpus of contemporary Jewish philosophy.>>>> (Shofar) ...a welcome addition to the somewhat scanty corpus of contemporary Jewish philosophy. (Shofar) This collection of papers from the Academy for Jewish Philosophy...is striking evidence to the fact that Jewish philosophy is alive and well....Read and enjoy! (Paul M. Van Buren Shofar) Product Description This book brings together for the first time a collection of essays by some of the most distinguished contemporary Jewish philosophers on issues such as the nature of Jewish philosophy from the perspectives of general philosophy, classical Jewish philosophy and Jewish law, the role of reason and revelation as authority in Judaism, and the impact of contemporary philosophy of history and language on Judaism. The book is a living record of the revitalization of Jewish philosophy in the post-Holocaust world. Co-published with Studies in Judaism. About the Author Norbert M. Samuelson is Associate Professor of Religion at Temple University.