
Contents
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Rabbinic Literature Rabbinic Literature
-
Tannaim Tannaim
-
Amoraim Amoraim
-
Api-Korach Api-Korach
-
Maimonides and the Apiqoros Maimonides and the Apiqoros
-
The Physical Theories of Epicurus in Maimonides’s Guide The Physical Theories of Epicurus in Maimonides’s Guide
-
Rabbi Nachman of Breslov Rabbi Nachman of Breslov
-
References References
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
22 Epicurus and Epicureanism in Rabbinic Literature, Maimonides, and Rabbi Nachman of Breslov
Get accessGabriel Danzig is Associate Professor in the department of classical studies at Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel. His primary area of research is philosophical literature of the classical period. His publications include articles and a book on Socrates, Plato, Xenophon, and Aristotle. He has also published articles on Greek and Roman themes in Jewish literature, including on Socrates, the concept of friendship, and debates between Rabbis and Greek and Roman figures.
-
Published:06 August 2020
Cite
Abstract
Although the authors of the Tannaitic and Amoraitic literature were unaware of the philosophical doctrines of Epicurus, they were aware of the attitudes and behavior of members of the Epicurean sect and offered a valuable account of the interaction of Epicureans with rabbinic figures. Actual knowledge of Epicurus’s doctrines appears first in Islamic Spain and reaches its most developed form in the discussions of Maimonides in the Mishneh Torah and the Guide of the Perplexed. In the MT, Maimonides reworks the Talmudic material in light of his knowledge of the philosophical opinions of Epicurus. In the Guide he suggests that Kalām theology can be understood as a religious form of Epicureanism, and this is one of his reasons for opposing the Kalām. Maimonides believes that Aristotle has disproved Epicurus, but his arguments on this point contain weaknesses. Finally, Rabbi Nachman of Breslev seems to have had some knowledge of the theories of Epicurus, since he associates Epicurus, for the first time in Jewish literature, with the so-called empty space or void discussed in the Kabbala. He grants more validity to Epicurean theories than did previous writers, merging Epicurean physics with a Kabbalistic theory of divine creation by means of retraction.
Sign in
Personal account
- Sign in with email/username & password
- Get email alerts
- Save searches
- Purchase content
- Activate your purchase/trial code
- Add your ORCID iD
Purchase
Our books are available by subscription or purchase to libraries and institutions.
Purchasing informationMonth: | Total Views: |
---|---|
October 2022 | 2 |
November 2022 | 3 |
December 2022 | 1 |
January 2023 | 7 |
February 2023 | 3 |
March 2023 | 2 |
April 2023 | 5 |
May 2023 | 2 |
June 2023 | 1 |
July 2023 | 1 |
August 2023 | 3 |
September 2023 | 6 |
October 2023 | 6 |
November 2023 | 2 |
December 2023 | 2 |
January 2024 | 1 |
February 2024 | 6 |
March 2024 | 6 |
April 2024 | 6 |
May 2024 | 2 |
June 2024 | 4 |
August 2024 | 4 |
November 2024 | 1 |
December 2024 | 2 |
January 2025 | 6 |
February 2025 | 4 |
March 2025 | 5 |
April 2025 | 3 |
Get help with access
Institutional access
Access to content on Oxford Academic is often provided through institutional subscriptions and purchases. If you are a member of an institution with an active account, you may be able to access content in one of the following ways:
IP based access
Typically, access is provided across an institutional network to a range of IP addresses. This authentication occurs automatically, and it is not possible to sign out of an IP authenticated account.
Sign in through your institution
Choose this option to get remote access when outside your institution. Shibboleth/Open Athens technology is used to provide single sign-on between your institution’s website and Oxford Academic.
If your institution is not listed or you cannot sign in to your institution’s website, please contact your librarian or administrator.
Sign in with a library card
Enter your library card number to sign in. If you cannot sign in, please contact your librarian.
Society Members
Society member access to a journal is achieved in one of the following ways:
Sign in through society site
Many societies offer single sign-on between the society website and Oxford Academic. If you see ‘Sign in through society site’ in the sign in pane within a journal:
If you do not have a society account or have forgotten your username or password, please contact your society.
Sign in using a personal account
Some societies use Oxford Academic personal accounts to provide access to their members. See below.
Personal account
A personal account can be used to get email alerts, save searches, purchase content, and activate subscriptions.
Some societies use Oxford Academic personal accounts to provide access to their members.
Viewing your signed in accounts
Click the account icon in the top right to:
Signed in but can't access content
Oxford Academic is home to a wide variety of products. The institutional subscription may not cover the content that you are trying to access. If you believe you should have access to that content, please contact your librarian.
Institutional account management
For librarians and administrators, your personal account also provides access to institutional account management. Here you will find options to view and activate subscriptions, manage institutional settings and access options, access usage statistics, and more.