Two Models of Jewish Philosophy Justifying One's Practices [Hardcover]

The question of how to justify our practices is central in both general and Jewish philosophy. In this book Daniel Rynhold critiques abstract approaches to justifying Jewish practice from the history of Jewish philosophy. Instead, he suggests a more practical model for justifying practices that he terms the Priority of Practice approach, illustrating thereby how Jewish philosophy can make a genuine contribution to general philosophical debates.

1. Rationalizing the commandments I: The Maimonidean method
2. Rationalizing the commandments II: The Soloveitchikian method
3. The priority of theory
4. Problems with principles
5. The priority of practice
6. The spectre of relativism
7. Conclusion: The practice of Jewish philosophy

Daniel Rynholdis Lecturer in Judaism, King's College London.