An Examination of the Singular in Maimonides and Spinoza: Prophecy, Intellect, and Politics

by Norman L. Whitman

Overview

This book presents an alternative reading of the respective works of Moses Maimonides and Baruch Spinoza. It argues that both thinkers are primarily concerned with the singular perfection of the complete human being rather than with attaining only rational knowledge. Complete perfection of a human being expresses the unique concord of concrete activities, such as ethics, politics, and psychology, with reason. The necessity of concrete historical activities in generating perfection entails that both thinkers are not primarily concerned with an “escape” to a metaphysical realm of transcendent or universal truths via cognition. Instead, both are focused on developing and cultivating individuals’ concrete desires and activities to the potential benefit of all. This book argues that rather than solely focusing on individual enlightenment, both thinkers are primarily concerned with a political life and the improvement of fellow citizens’ capacities. A key theme throughout the text is that both Maimonides and Spinoza realize that an apolitical life undermines individual and social flourishing.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783030494742
Publisher:	Springer International Publishing
Publication date:	08/14/2020
Edition description:	1st ed. 2020
Pages:	278
Product dimensions:	5.83(w) x 8.27(h) x 0.00(d)

About the Author

Norman L. Whitman is a Lecturer of Philosophy at the University of Houston—Downtown. His primary research focuses on the philosophy of Baruch Spinoza and Spinoza’s relation to the history of philosophy.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction

Chapter 2: Prophecy and Intuition: Singular Knowledge in Maimonides’ and Spinoza’s Philosophy

Chapter 3: Out of Many: Prophecy and Sovereign Authority in Maimonides’ and Spinoza’s Politics

Chapter 4: A Singular Method: A Healing of the Soul and An Emendation of the Intellect

Chapter 5: The Demand of the Concrete: The Non-Contingency of Language

Chapter 6: The “Place” of Reason