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The Attitude Towards Democracy in Medieval Jewish Philosophy

April 27, 1993

Medieval Jewish thought, following Platonic and Muslim political philosophy, on the one hand, and halakhic concepts, on the other, was basically, although reluctantly, monarchist, and inherently anti democratic. It rejected outright what we term here as the ancient Greek variety of liberal democracy, which went against its basic philosophical and theological assumptions.

The Right to Belief in Jewish Philosophy

October 2, 1992 | Norbert M. Samuelson

This essay looks at two texts in Jewish philosophy ? one medieval and the other modern ? and summarizes the logical connections between schematic beliefs about the universe in terms of the physical sciences, ethics in terms of the human sciences, and the dynamically determined nature of Jewish faith. More fully discussed is the logical status of dogma in Judaism with respect to the right of the individual within the community to sincere belief. It is argued that, contrary to what is commonly believed by modern Jews, doxis has as central a role in defining Judaism as does praxis.