December 15, 2003
Certainly for Every person
Ronald H. Isaacs: Every Person's Guide to Jewish Philosophy and Philosophers
Overall, this book is a bit on the light side, but gives a good overview of the positions and influences of the major Jewish philosophers. The book even covers modern personalities, including Fackenheim, Soloveitchik and Berkovits (who, apparently, thought of my whole Presence/Hester Panim theory). No source material is quoted, just a few pages on each topic. The book does a decent job in showing the connections between Jews working within the tradition (and some without) in the context of the major philosophical movements of their time.
Overall, this is a good introduction, not too deep, very good for the beginner. I would have liked a bit more detail, perhaps some quotes from primary sources (there were none). But it is a good reference for quick information.
[Posted via blam!]
