Samuel Lebens takes the three principles of Jewish faith, as proposed by Rabbi Joseph Albo (1380-1444), in order to scrutinize and refine them with the toolkit of contemporary analytic philosophy. What could it mean for a perfect being to create a world from nothing? Could our world be anything more than a figment of God's imagination? What is the Torah? What does Judaism expect from a Messiah, and what would it mean for a world to be redeemed? These questions are explored in conversation with a wide array of Jewish sources and with an eye towards diverse fields of contemporary research, such as cosmology, philosophical logic, the ontology of literature, and the metaphysics of time. The Principles of Judaism articulates the most fundamental axioms of Orthodox Judaism in the vernacular of contemporary philosophy.
Bertrand Russell and the Nature of Propositions offers the first book-length defence of the Multiple Relation Theory of Judgement (MRTJ). Although the theory was much maligned by Wittgenstein and ultimately rejected by Russell himself, Lebens shows that it provides a rich and insightful way to understand the nature of propositional content. In Part I, Lebens charts the trajectory of Russell’s thought before he adopted the MRTJ. Part II reviews the historical story of the theory: What led Russell to deny the existence of propositions altogether? Why did the theory keep evolving throughout its short life? What role did G. F. Stout play in the evolution of the theory? What was Wittgenstein’s concern with the theory, and, if we can’t know what his concern was exactly, then what are the best contending hypotheses? And why did Russell give the theory up? In Part III, Lebens makes the case that Russell’s concerns with the theory weren’t worth its rejection. Moreover, he argues that the MRTJ does most of what we could want from an account of propositions at little philosophical cost. This book bridges the history of early analytic philosophy with work in contemporary philosophy of language. It advances a bold reading of the theory of descriptions and offers a new understanding of the role of Stout and the representation concern in the evolution of the MRTJ. It also makes a decisive contribution to philosophy of language by demonstrating the viability of a no-proposition theory of propositions.
A life recovering from many years of heartbreak and destruction is never perfect or always easy. It's about striving to do better and to be a better person. Rewards outweigh the discouragement. While following God's will, blessings are exponential and more exciting than I ever could have imagined. My attitude and focus on life are much more than just me. I enjoy being with like-minded people and enjoy precious time spent with family. My legacy is important now while before, it would have been sad and tragic. Before Christ, I just existed and cared mainly about myself. My personal successes are secondary while I live with very little fear of loss or destruction. My relationship with Jesus Christ is first, and he solves my fears. He is all meaningful. Give God a chance. It is the only true way to live.
Driver intended this volume to provide insight toward the philology and textual criticism of the Old Testament. He regarded Samuel as an excellent field for training the intermediate Hebrew student in the uses of Hebrew idiom. Driver also regarded the books of Samuel as filled with transcriptional corruption, thus quite appropriate for introduction to the grounds and principles of textual criticism.
This book introduces students and other interested readers to the philosophy of religion—a vibrant and growing field of academic philosophy. Readers will be guided through an exploration of classic and contemporary arguments for and against theism. In addition to this crucial, but standard fare, this book looks to probe deeper into the nature and value (or dis-value) of religion itself. Philosophy of religion is becoming more diverse, both in terms of the religious traditions it examines, and the issues that it addresses. This book reflects that fact, engaging with religious traditions from Quakerism to Jainism. Questions and topics covered include: What is religion? What philosophical problems arise for the practices of prayer, worship, and meditation? How might multiple religions co-exist in peace? If there’s a God, would it be the sort of thing that language could describe? When and how might it be rational to wager that a particular religion is true? With a glossary of key terms and suggestions for further reading, Philosophy of Religion: The Basics is an ideal starting point for anyone seeking a lively and accessible foray into the study of religion or philosophy.
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