| Course title | Islamic and Jewish Intellectuals in the Middle Ages |
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| Course code | JUD/IJI |
| Organizational form of instruction | Seminary |
| Level of course | Master |
| Year of study | not specified |
| Semester | Winter and summer |
| Number of ECTS credits | 4 |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Status of course | Compulsory-optional |
| Form of instruction | Face-to-face |
| Work placements | This is not an internship |
| Recommended optional programme components | None |
| Course availability | The course is available to visiting students |
| Lecturer(s) |
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| Course content |
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1. Introduction: Islam and Judaism in a Comparative Perspective (Reading: Crone and Cook, Hagarism, pp. 3-34) 2. Islamic and Jewish intellectual trends in the Middle Ages: chronology, personalities, schools, and controversial issues (Reading: Leaman, Introduction, 1-21, Crone and Cook, Hagarism, 120-138 , Maimonides, Commentary on the Mishnah, Hagiga 2:1 and Guide, introductions to part I and part III) 3. Nature, naturalism, and Hellenic scientific-philosophical traditions (Reading: Avicenna, Metaphysics, 6, 2-3 and 7,3) 4. ?Accept the truth, whoever says it!? Rabbis, ?ulama?, Nestorian theologians and the philosophers (Reading: Neusner et al. Judaism and Islam, 10-30, Crone and Cook, Hagarism, 149-151, al-Kindi, On first philosophy, introduction, Maimonides, Eight Chapters, introduction, Maimonides, Responsa, ed. Blau, vol. 1, 200-201 [no. 117]) 5. ?You have stolen my ideas!? Appropriation of alien wisdom and building new canons (Reading: al-Farabi, Kitab al-Huruf, Maimonides, Guide, I, 71, Maimonides? letter to Samuel Ibn Tibbon, Pseudo-Maimonides, Ethical Will) 6. The Challenge of Naturalism (Reading: Leaman, Introduction, 74-86, Ghazzali, Tahafut, Discussion 17, Judah ha-Levi, Kuzari I,1-43; 62-79) 7. Spirituality and desert ecology: asceticism, seclusion, and spiritual knowledge in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam (Reading: Hughes, Hay ben Meqitz, Ibn Tufayl, Hayy ibn Yaqzan, Maimonides, Guide III, 51) 8. Encountering the Supernatural I: The psychokinetic powers of the prophet (reading: Ibn Sina, Metaphysics Book 10, Saadyah, Beliefs and Opinions) 9. Encountering the Supernatural II: Abraham Ibn Ezra on Moses? mystical experiences (reading: Ibn Ezra, Long Commentary on Exodus 33:21) 10. Encountering the Supernatural III: Maimonides? theory of creation and prophecy (reading: Leaman, Introduction, 59-74, Maimonides, Guide II, 17, 25, and 36-40) 11. Encountering the Supernatural IV: Miracle as occult causation in Ibn Rushd and ?Jewish Averroism? (reading: Ibn Rushd, Tahafut al-Tahafut, 17th discourse, Narboni, Commentary on the Guide, III, 29, 51b) 12. The Ashkenazi reception of Islamic naturalism: Berakhiah ben Natronai ha-Nakdan and Judah he-Hasid (reading: Berakhiah, Dodi ve-nekhdi, Judah he-hasid, Zekher asa le-niflaotav) 13. Hanbalism in Ashkenaz? Moshe Taku and Ibn Qudama (reading: Moshe Taku, Ketav Tamim, Ibn Qudama, Dhamm al-ta?wil) 14. Miracle as an ?added dimension:? Menahem Shalem, Maharal and their Islamic sources (reading: Ruderman, 78-80.) A reader of the primary sources (in the original and in English translations) will be provided at the beginning of the semester.
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| Learning activities and teaching methods |
| Dialogic Lecture (Discussion, Dialog, Brainstorming) |
| Learning outcomes |
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Familiarity with the basic outlines of medieval Islamic and Jewish intellectual history and with the problematic of a chosen topic (which is going to be ?naturalism and the supernatural? this semester). Reading selected theological and philosophical texts on the chosen topic.
Familiarity with the major trends in medieval Jewish and Islamic philosophy. Ability to read and interpret Jewish and Islamic philosophical texts. |
| Prerequisites |
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This seminar is for all the students of the Jewish Studies and for all the other students who would be interested.
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| Assessment methods and criteria |
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Didactic Test
Students are expected to read key passages of primary sources (i.e. Islamic and Jewish theological and philosophical texts) in English translation (or in Arabic and Hebrew original if they prefer), as well as secondary literature assigned every week. Students are expected to write short summaries of the obligatory readings as well as to participate actively in discussion during the seminars. |
| Recommended literature |
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| Study plans that include the course |
| Faculty | Study plan (Version) | Category of Branch/Specialization | Recommended semester | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): Jewish Studies. Jewish History and Culture (2019) | Category: Philosophy, theology | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: - |
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): Jewish and Israeli Studies (2019) | Category: Philosophy, theology | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: - |
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): Jewish Studies. Jewish History and Culture (2019) | Category: Philosophy, theology | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: - |
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): Jewish Studies. Jewish History and Culture (2019) | Category: Philosophy, theology | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: - |
| Faculty: Faculty of Arts | Study plan (Version): Jewish and Israeli Studies (2019) | Category: Philosophy, theology | - | Recommended year of study:-, Recommended semester: - |