Ha’Emunoth VehaDe’oth [philosophy]. Translated into Hebrew by Judah ibn Tibon.

SAADIAH GAON.

Solomon Ya’avetz

Constantinople

1562

FIRST EDITION. Wide margins.

Vinograd, Const. 222.

First edition of a fundamental work of Jewish philosophy. Originally written in Arabic, Ha’emunoth Vehade’oth was the first systematic treatise of religious Jewish philosophic literature. Saadiah Gaon’s purpose is two-fold: To demonstrate the principles of Judaism are compatible with Reason and to interpret these principles in a manner that their rationality be evident. The book is divided into ten sections each of which is subdivided into chapters. The first nine sections philosophically establish the ten fundamental principles of faith and the tenth, is devoted to ethics. For a brief overview of Saadiah’s philosophic arguments, see M. Waxman, Literature, Vol. I pp. 322-7.