LEVI BEN GERSHOM (GERSONIDES/

v.p.

Riva di Trento

v.d.

RaLBa”G). Pirush Chamesh Megiloth [commentary to the Five Scrolls]. FIRST EDITION. Title letters within decorative woodcut vignettes. ff. 50. [Vinograd, Riva di Trento 23; not in Adams]. Jacob Marcaria the Physician, 1560. * IBN GVIROL, SOLOMON BEN JUDAH. Goren Nachon-Tikun Midoth Hanephesh [ethics]. With: Musrei Haphilosophim and Sepher Hatapuach (attributed to Aristotle). FIRST EDITION. Title within woodcut architectural arch. ff.17, (25), 5. Title closely shaved at lower margin, affecting woodcut. [Vinograd, Riva di Trento 37, 39, 40; Mehlman 1363; Adams S-1416]. Joseph Aschkenazi of Padua, 1562.

First work: As a biblical exegsist, Gersonides followed the philosophic method of interpretation. Gersonides finds the main Aristotelian theories of practical ethics in his commentary on Koheleth, and finds that the work deals with the application of the principles of conduct and the particular means for obtaiing the aims involved in them. He explains the contradictions in the work, by the fact that the author includes views with which he does not agree in order to afford people a choice of action. The explains Canticles (The Song of Songs) entirely as an allegory depicting the soul, its faculties and the reigning spirit. See M. Waxman, Vol. II pp.39-43.