Socrates, Philosophers, and Kings in Medieval Jewish Philosophy

Session Submission Type: Panel Session

Abstract

This session explores the Platonic image of the philosopher-king as a representation of an idealized unity of reason and the good in medieval Jewish philosophical texts. Medieval Jewish philosophers transferred such a political and intellectual unity to the best regime PAR EXCELLENCE, namely Judaism. The best known example of this is in Maimonides’ GUIDE, where the prophets, whom Maimonides identifies as political leaders of sorts, are said to be philosophers. This session explores lesser known uses of this image in Judah Halevi’s KUZARI, Levi Gersonides’ Commentary on the Bible, and Albo’s SEFER HA’IQQARIM. Like Plato’s REPUBLIC, all three of these works are skeptical as to whether such an ideal polity can ever come into being.

The first paper, by Yehuda Halper, explores how Judah Halevi both criticizes philosophy and also makes a philosopher an example of the true worshiper as well as a candidate for good rule. Explicitly using Socrates as an example, Halevi questions the possible unity of intellect and the good by separating Socrates from the good ruler and casting the true philosophers as isolationists.

The second paper, by Alex Green, reads Gersonides as denying Maimonides’ connection between prophecy and philosophy, especially regarding the biblical Moses. Although according to Gersonides, Moses was prophet, king, high priest and supreme judge, his human shortcomings prevented him from truly unifying philosophy and kingship. If Moses could not be a philosopher-king, then it is not clear that anyone can.

The third paper, by Seth Appelbaum, treats the limitations of human and divine laws according to Albo. For Albo, the divine law is best suited to determine particular cases since human laws cannot avoid arbitrariness. Accordingly, there would seem to be no need for a philosopher-king, except to interpret laws that already exist or to extend the divine laws to cases not treated by the divine law.

Sub Unit

• Medieval Jewish Philosophy

Chair

• Roslyn Weiss, Lehigh University

Individual Presentations

• Socrates, Divine Worship, and the Good Ruler in Part III of Halevi’s KUZARI - Yehuda Halper, Tulane University

• Gersonides’ Allegory of Moses as Critique of the Philosopher-King - Alexander Green, SUNY, University at Buffalo

• Statesman and Law in Bk 1 of Joseph Albo's SEFER HA'IQQARIM - Seth Appelbaum, Tulane University

Respondent

• Steven Harvey, Bar-Ilan University