This book is an attempt to explain how, in the face of increasing religious authoritarianism in medieval Islamic civilization, some Muslim thinkers continued to pursue essentially humanistic, rational, and scientific discourses in the quest for knowledge, meaning, and values. Drawing on a wide range of Islamic writings, from love poetry to history to philosophical theology, Goodman shows that medieval Islam was open to individualism, occasional secularism, skepticism, even liberalism.
In this updated edition of his classic work, Lenn E. Goodman provides a
concise introduction to the life and thought of Abu Ali al-Husain ibn Abdallah
ibn Sina, known as Avicenna, who was born in the year 980 C.E. near Bokhara in
what is now...
Better Late Than Never is the extraordinary true story of how a man born into
poverty in London's East End went on to find stardom late in life when he was
chosen to be head judge on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing.
The author presents a compelling argument for mutual respect and understanding among diverse perspectives. Emphasizing that individuals can appreciate and learn from each other's beliefs and practices without needing to adopt them or abandon their own, the book explores the potential for coexistence and dialogue in a pluralistic society. This approach encourages readers to embrace differences while fostering a sense of community and personal integrity.
According to Aristotle, man's essential sociality implies a distinctive conception of politics, one in which all political associations exist for the sake of the moral perfection of human beings. This stands in sharp contrast with the modern view of politics that man is not "by nature" political; rather, man chooses to create political associations for the sake of securing the protection of his life and property. Many political theorists have begun to express doubts about this modern view, calling for a return to Aristotle's vision of a politics that is deeply moral. In Aristotle's Politics Today, distinguished political philosophers representing a diversity of approaches examine the meaning, relevance, and implications of Aristotle's political thought for contemporary social and political theory. The contributors engage a broad range of topics, including Aristotle's views on constitutionalism, the extension of Aristotelian ideas to issues in international relations, the place of Aristotelian virtue in modern democratic politics, and Aristotle's conception of justice. Book jacket.
Judaism, as a religion and a way of life, has guided millions of lives and
profoundly influenced its younger sisters, Christianity and Islam, as well as
contributing major themes and norms to the liberal and humanistic traditions
of the West. Not all Jews are religious, and not all of Judaism is
philosophical; but at its core Judaism rests on a complex of values and ideas
that address the abiding concerns of philosophy and perennial questions about
the meaning and purpose of life. This book examines some of the central
questions around Judaism, drawing on the ancient and more recent sources of
Jewish thought, as viewed from a contemporary philosophical standpoint.
In this volume, noted philosopher Lenn E. Goodman shares the insights gained over a lifetime of pondering the meaning and purpose of Maimonides' celebrated Guide to the Perplexed. Written in the late twelfth century, Maimonides' Guide aims to help religiously committed readers who are alive to the challenges posed by reason and the natural sciences to biblical and rabbinic tradition. Keyed to the new translation and commentary by Lenn E. Goodman and Phillip I. Lieberman, this volume follows Maimonides' life and learning and delves into the text of the Guide, clearly explaining just what Maimonides means by identifying the Talmudic Ma'aseh Bereshit and Ma'aseh Merkavah with physics and metaphysics (to Maimonides, biblical cosmology and theology). Exploring Maimonides' treatments of revelation, religious practice and experience, law and ritual, the problem of evil, and the rational purposes of the commandments, this guide to the Guide explains the tactics Maimonides deployed to ensure that readers not get in over their heads when venturing into philosophical deep waters.
