Philosophers and Scholars: Wolfson, Guttmann and Strauss on the History of Jewish Philosophy

(Paperback)

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Philosophers and Scholars offers a map of possible research conceptions and methods for the study of Jewish philosophy. Jonathan Cohen brings together the views of three of the greatest scholar-thinkers in the area of Jewish philosophy of the twentieth century, including Harry Austryn Wolfson (18871974), Julius Guttmann (18801950), and Leo Strauss (18991973). Each thinker's construction of Jewish philosophy is presented through individual definitions of Judaism and philosophy, understandings of its historical development, and analyses of the canons used in interpretations of Jewish philosophical texts. Cohen approaches the history of Jewish philosophy from a personal and fervently held Jewish philosophical perspective. This rich and fascinating text imparts new perspectives and theses on the research orientations of Wolfson, Guttmann, and Strauss. Philosophers and Scholars will captivate those interested in religious studies and philosophy.

Reviews

Jonathan Cohen's Philosophers and Scholars is the first study of its type: a comprehensive and original consideration of the three greatest historians of Jewish philosophy in the 20th centuryHarry Wolfson, Julius Guttmann, and Leo Strauss. His research is thorough, and his argument is probing and thoughtful. The book often challenges established, already-conventional views of the achievement of these three great scholars. It is an impressive synthesis, and the author sets a high standard for future historians of thought, both Jewish and general. -- Kenneth Hart Green, University of Toronto

Author Bio

Jonathan Cohen is senior lecturer of Jewish education and the philosophy of education at Hebrew University in Jerusalem.