[Kuzari] Liber Cosri [philosophy]. Translated into Hebrew by Judah ibn Tibbon. Introduction, translation and notes in Latin by JOHANNES BUXTORF
AUCTION 23 |
Tuesday, March 30th,
2004 at 1:00
Hebrew Printed Books & Manuscripts from The Rare Book Room of the Jews College Library, London The Third Portion
Lot 115
HALEVI, JUDAH
[Kuzari] Liber Cosri [philosophy]. Translated into Hebrew by Judah ibn Tibbon. Introduction, translation and notes in Latin by JOHANNES BUXTORF
Basle: GEORG DECKER 1660
Est: $800 - $1,200
PRICE REALIZED $700
Celebrated philosophical exposition of the teachings of Judaism, prompted by questions supposedly posed by the King of the Chazars
The Kuzari is one of just a very few book of Jewish philosophy written in the form of a Socratic dialogue. Halevi develops a philosophy of history in an attempt to show the insufficiency of theological conclusions arrived at by rationalistic means. His underlying principle is that God cannot be found or conceived by reason, God is to be conceived by intuition. It is this intuition (“Inyan Eloki”) which may bring one to the highest spiritual levels. The work has a polemical and apologetic dimension as well, and primarily discusses the inadequacies of Christian and Islamic theology and the superiority of Judaism. See: M. Waxman, vol. I pp.333-39.
The addendum to this edition (pp. 389-455) contains excerpts of essays from the works of Don Isaac Abrabanel, Azariah de Rossi, Samuel Archivolti, Samuel ibn Tibon, and Abraham Portleone