PHI 601 Medieval Jewish Thought
This class serves as a (very) brief introduction to several of the major figures in the history and development of Jewish thought in the post-Talmudic and medieval periods. In setting up the contexts for various ways in which Jews reacted to influential philosophical trends and theological questions over time, the course encourages students to explore and discover at least a few of the major issues that dominate the 10ththrough the 17thcenturies. It also encourages students to exercise their own theological and philosophical muscles by engaging with the ideas and thinkers who form the backbone of rabbinic Judaism. We will explore issues including uniformity (of belief, of practice, across disparate geographies), the nature of God and God's relationship(s) to People Israel, the meaning of exile (both galut and its end in geulah), the use and purpose of halakha, and religious authority.