1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910155311703321

Autore

Green Alexander

Titolo

The Virtue Ethics of Levi Gersonides / / by Alexander Green

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Cham : , : Springer International Publishing : , : Imprint : Palgrave Macmillan, , 2016

ISBN

3-319-40820-8

Edizione

[1st ed. 2016.]

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (XXIII, 195 p. 1 illus. in color.)

Disciplina

180

Soggetti

Medieval philosophy

Religions

Judaism—Doctrines

Europe—History—476-1492

Medieval Philosophy

Comparative Religion

Jewish Theology

History of Medieval Europe

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

1. Introduction -- 2. Luck and the Virtues of Physical Preservation -- 3. Altruism and the Beneficent Virtues -- 4. Justice and the Practical Wisdom of the Individual -- 5. The Ethics of Divided Political Institutions: King, Priest, and Prophet -- 6. Conclusion. .

Sommario/riassunto

This book argues that Levi Gersonides articulates a unique model of virtue ethics among medieval Jewish thinkers. Gersonides is recognized by scholars as one of the most innovative Jewish philosophers of the medieval period. His first model of virtue is a response to the seemingly capricious forces of luck through training in endeavor, diligence, and cunning aimed at physical self-preservation. His second model of virtue is altruistic in nature. It is based on the human imitation of God as creator of the laws of the universe for no self-interested benefit, leading humans to imitate God through the virtues of loving-kindness, grace, and beneficence. Both these models are amplified through the institutions of the kingship and the priesthood, which serve to actualize physical preservation and beneficence on a



larger scale, amounting to recognition of the political necessity for a division of powers.