1. Introduction: Islam and Judaism in a Comparative Perspective (Reading: Crone and Cook, Hagarism, pp. 3-34) 2. Islamic and Jewish intellectual trends in the Middle Ages: chronology, personalities, schools, and controversial issues (Reading: Leaman, Introduction, 1-21, Crone and Cook, Hagarism, 120-138 , Maimonides, Commentary on the Mishnah, Hagiga 2:1 and Guide, introductions to part I and part III) 3. Nature, naturalism, and Hellenic scientific-philosophical traditions (Reading: Avicenna, Metaphysics, 6, 2-3 and 7,3) 4. ?Accept the truth, whoever says it!? Rabbis, ?ulama?, Nestorian theologians and the philosophers (Reading: Neusner et al. Judaism and Islam, 10-30, Crone and Cook, Hagarism, 149-151, al-Kindi, On first philosophy, introduction, Maimonides, Eight Chapters, introduction, Maimonides, Responsa, ed. Blau, vol. 1, 200-201 [no. 117]) 5. ?You have stolen my ideas!? Appropriation of alien wisdom and building new canons (Reading: al-Farabi, Kitab al-Huruf, Maimonides, Guide, I, 71, Maimonides? letter to Samuel Ibn Tibbon, Pseudo-Maimonides, Ethical Will) 6. The Challenge of Naturalism (Reading: Leaman, Introduction, 74-86, Ghazzali, Tahafut, Discussion 17, Judah ha-Levi, Kuzari I,1-43; 62-79) 7. Spirituality and desert ecology: asceticism, seclusion, and spiritual knowledge in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam (Reading: Hughes, Hay ben Meqitz, Ibn Tufayl, Hayy ibn Yaqzan, Maimonides, Guide III, 51) 8. Encountering the Supernatural I: The psychokinetic powers of the prophet (reading: Ibn Sina, Metaphysics Book 10, Saadyah, Beliefs and Opinions) 9. Encountering the Supernatural II: Abraham Ibn Ezra on Moses? mystical experiences (reading: Ibn Ezra, Long Commentary on Exodus 33:21) 10. Encountering the Supernatural III: Maimonides? theory of creation and prophecy (reading: Leaman, Introduction, 59-74, Maimonides, Guide II, 17, 25, and 36-40) 11. Encountering the Supernatural IV: Miracle as occult causation in Ibn Rushd and ?Jewish Averroism? (reading: Ibn Rushd, Tahafut al-Tahafut, 17th discourse, Narboni, Commentary on the Guide, III, 29, 51b) 12. The Ashkenazi reception of Islamic naturalism: Berakhiah ben Natronai ha-Nakdan and Judah he-Hasid (reading: Berakhiah, Dodi ve-nekhdi, Judah he-hasid, Zekher asa le-niflaotav) 13. Hanbalism in Ashkenaz? Moshe Taku and Ibn Qudama (reading: Moshe Taku, Ketav Tamim, Ibn Qudama, Dhamm al-ta?wil) 14. Miracle as an ?added dimension:? Menahem Shalem, Maharal and their Islamic sources (reading: Ruderman, 78-80.) A reader of the primary sources (in the original and in English translations) will be provided at the beginning of the semester.
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