TABLE OF CONTENTS: Preface xi
Acknowledgments xvii
Abbreviations xix
Chapter One: Maimonides and Mediterranean Culture 1
Mediterranean Cultures 3
Maimonides as a Mediterranean Thinker 6
Horizons 13
Transformations in the Jewish World 18
Maimonides and Saadia 22
Chapter Two: The Theological Context of Maimonides' Thought 24
Islamic Theology 24
Heresies, Jewish and Muslim 38
Chapter Three: An Almohad "Fundamentalist"? 53
Almohads 53
Maimonides and the Almohads 59
Legal Aspects 61
Theology 70
Exegesis and Political Philosophy 73
Philosophy and Astronomy 80
Conclusion 82
Chapter Four: La Longue Durée: Maimonides as a Phenomenologist of Religion 84
Sabians 84
Maimonides as an Historian of Religion 106
"A Wise and Understanding People?": The Religion of the People 111
Chapter Five: A Critical Mind: Maimonides as Scientist 125
Medicine and Science 125
"Ravings": Maimonides' Concept of Pseudo-Science 138
Chapter Six: "From Moses to Moses": Maimonides' Vision of Perfection 153
"True Felicity": The Hereafter in Maimonides' Thought 153
Issues of Life and Death:
The Controversy Regarding Resurrection 165
"Gates for the Righteous Nation": The Philosopher as Leader 183
Conclusion 189
Bibliography 193
Index 219
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