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219The Middle Class: Philosophical, Political, and Historical Perspectives (edited book)Editorial Universidad Costa Rica. 2020.In the summer of 2016, the University of Dallas and the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México organized a conference to discuss the topic of the middle class and its continued decline—recognizing that, despite some historical, political and cultural differences, healthy democracies throughout the hemisphere depend upon a strong and prosperous middle class. This volume brings together contributions by nine scholars from both institutions. The chapters reflect diverse disciplinary perspectives …Read more
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62Metaphysics as rhetoric: Alfarabi's Summary of Plato's "Laws"State University of New York Press. 1995.1 The Roots of the Laws Perhaps the most ready assumption of any reader of the Laws-it only because of its title-is that its primary purpose is to provide a ...
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57Maimonidean ethics revisited: Development and asceticism in Maimonides?Journal of Jewish Thought and Philosophy 12 (3): 33-62. 2003.Most recent interpreters of Maimonides argue that his ethical views develop from support of the mean in Eight Chapters to support of asceticism in "Laws Concerning Character Traits" and the Guide. This article challenges that interpretation: first, through a reconsideration of Aristotle's views on the mean and the relation of the ethically virtuous life to the contemplative life, and, second, through a reconsideration of Maimonides' texts. One riddle recommends we not jump to conclusions about M…Read more
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47Leaving the GardenPhilosophy and Theology 18 (2): 219-246. 2006.A whirl surrounds Maimonides’ Guide of the Perplexed 1.2. He seems to argue, there, that good and evil are merely concerns of the imagination. In the prophetology, Guide 2.32–48, Maimonides never refers to practical intellect or prudence. Recent interpreters have inferred that the imagination takes the place of practical intellect in Maimonides’ practical teaching. This paper seeks to show that, in keeping with earlier works such as Eight Chapters, Maimonides continues to rely on practical intel…Read more
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38Maimonides and Spinoza: their conflicting views of human natureUniversity of Chicago Press. 2012.Desire (shahwa) and spiritedness (ghaḍab) vs. conatus -- Veneration vs. equality -- Forms vs. laws of nature -- Freedom vs. determinism -- Teleology vs. imagined ideal -- Prudence vs. imagination -- Epilogue -- Appendix: Richard Kennington's Spinoza and esotericism in Spinoza's thought.
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33Medieval political philosophy: a sourcebook (edited book)Cornell University Press. 2011.A new edition of the classic anthology of Christian, Muslin, and Jewish political philosophy in the Middle Ages.
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31Metaphysics as an Aristotelian Science (review)American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly 81 (1): 139-142. 2007.
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30An Islamic Philosophy of Virtuous Religions: Introducing Alfarabi (review)Speculum 83 (1): 231-232. 2008.
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23Metaphysics as an Aristotelian Science (review)American Catholic Philosophical Quarterly 81 (1): 139-142. 2007.
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23Law, Reason, and Morality in Medieval Jewish Philosophy: Saadia Gaon, Bahya ibn Pakuda, and Moses Maimonides, by Jonathan JacobsMind 122 (488): 1108-1112. 2013.
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21Leo Strauss and the Recovery of Medieval Political PhilosophyUniversity of Rochester Press. 2016.Leo Strauss is known primarily for reviving classical political philosophy. Strauss recovered that great tradition of thought largely lost to the West by beginning his study of classical thought with its teaching on politics rather than its metaphysics. What brought Strauss to this way of reading the classics, however, was a discovery he made as a young political scientist studying the obscure texts of Islamic and Jewish medieval political thought. In this volume, Joshua Parens examines Strauss'…Read more
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16The Companionship of Books: Essays in Honor of Laurence Berns (edited book)Lexington Books. 2011.This volume is a collection of essays by various contributors in honor of the late Laurence Berns, Richard Hammond Elliot Tutor Emeritus at St. John's College, Annapolis. The essays address the literary, political, theological, and philosophical themes of his life's work as a scholar, teacher, and constant companion of the "great books."
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15Leaving the GardenPhilosophy and Theology 18 (2): 219-246. 2006.A whirl surrounds Maimonides’ Guide of the Perplexed 1.2. He seems to argue, there, that good and evil are merely concerns of the imagination. In the prophetology, Guide 2.32–48, Maimonides never refers to practical intellect or prudence. Recent interpreters have inferred that the imagination takes the place of practical intellect in Maimonides’ practical teaching. This paper seeks to show that, in keeping with earlier works such as Eight Chapters, Maimonides continues to rely on practical intel…Read more
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11Alfarabi, The Political Writings: "Selected Aphorisms" and Other TextsJournal of the American Oriental Society 123 (1): 244. 2003.
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9Alfarabi: The Political Writings: “Selected Aphorisms” and Other Texts (review)Journal of the American Oriental Society 123 (1): 244. 2003.
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8Socrates: Sisyphean or Overflowing?In Paul J. Diduch & Michael P. Harding (eds.), Socrates in the Cave: On the Philosopher’s Motive in Plato, Springer Verlag. pp. 185-203. 2018.Based on the ostensible fact that truly Socratic dialogue entails a considerable inequality between participants, Parens explores Socrates’s reasons for conversing dialectically with those who are manifestly his philosophic inferiors. Contrary to many Plato scholars who emphasize Socrates’s self-reported ignorance and, hence, the “Sisyphean” character of his philosophic activity, Parens intends to show—with the help of Maimonides—that Socrates is an “overflowing” philosopher, who cannot help but…Read more
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5Concepts of Nature: Ancient and Modern ed. by R. J. Sneel and Steven F. McGuireReview of Metaphysics 73 (2): 381-383. 2019.
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3Ibn Bajja, The governance of the solitaryIn Joshua Parens & Joseph C. Macfarland (eds.), Medieval Political Philosophy: A Sourcebook, Cornell University Press. 2011.
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3Alfarabi, The attainment of happiness ; Alfarabi, Plato's Laws ; Avicenna, On the divisions of the rational sciencesIn Joshua Parens & Joseph C. Macfarland (eds.), Medieval Political Philosophy: A Sourcebook, Cornell University Press. 2011.
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2Abravanel, Commentary on the BibleIn Joshua Parens & Joseph C. Macfarland (eds.), Medieval Political Philosophy: A Sourcebook, Cornell University Press. 2011.
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2Alfarabi, The enumeration of the sciences ; Alfarabi, The book of religion ; Alfarabi, The political regimeIn Joshua Parens & Joseph C. Macfarland (eds.), Medieval Political Philosophy: A Sourcebook, Cornell University Press. 2011.
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2Avicenna, Healing: metaphysicsIn Joshua Parens & Joseph C. Macfarland (eds.), Medieval Political Philosophy: A Sourcebook, Cornell University Press. 2011.
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1Isaac Polgar, The support of religionIn Joshua Parens & Joseph C. Macfarland (eds.), Medieval Political Philosophy: A Sourcebook, Cornell University Press. 2011.
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1Maimonides, LogicIn Joshua Parens & Joseph C. Macfarland (eds.), Medieval Political Philosophy: A Sourcebook, Cornell University Press. 2011.
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1Alghazali, The deliverer from errorIn Joshua Parens & Joseph C. Macfarland (eds.), Medieval Political Philosophy: A Sourcebook, Cornell University Press. 2011.
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1Judah Halevi, The Book of refutation and proof on behalf of the despised religion, or, The kuzariIn Joshua Parens & Joseph C. Macfarland (eds.), Medieval Political Philosophy: A Sourcebook, Cornell University Press. 2011.
Irving, Texas, United States of America
Areas of Specialization
History of Western Philosophy |
Value Theory |
Metaphysics and Epistemology |
Philosophical Traditions |