Maimonides' Political Thought: Studies in Ethics, Law and the Human Ideal » (New Edition)

This book presents a series of studies that cover a wide range of issues relating to Maimonides' political thought, including the basis for political and ethical knowledge; the notion of the "good"; imitatio Dei; apparent contradictions in his position on ethics; the conception of God that he attempts to inculcate to Jewish society at large; and his novel approach to the love and fear of God. Taking into account his medieval Aristotelian and Jewish sources, these explorations also deal with some of the opposing considerations that Maimonides had to balance in developing and presenting his positions on such subjects as the nature of divine law, the static vs. dynamic dimensions of Mosaic law, prophetic and rabbinic authority within Judaism, the reasons for the commandments, and martyrdom.

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Seven essays originally published between 1988 and 1996, but radically edited by Kreisel (Jewish thought, Ben-Gurion U. of the Negev) to thin out duplicate treatments, add new material, and join them into a single study. He considers such aspects of the 12th-century Jewish philosopher as the practical intellect, the concept of good, approaches to ethics, the role of the law, and the love and fear of God. He combines close readings in the context of the contemporary literary, intellectual, and historical milieu. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknew.com)