The Birth of Thought in the Spanish Language: 14th century Hebrew-Spanish Philosophy (Philosophical Studies Series Book 127)

This book takes readers on a philosophical discovery of a forgotten treasure, one born in the 14th century but which appears to belong to the 21st. It presents a critical, up-to-date analysis of Santob de Carrión, also known as Sem Tob, a writer and thinker whose philosophy arose in the Spain of the three great cultures: Jews, Christians, and Muslims, who then coexisted in peace. The author first presents a historical and cultural introduction that provides biographical detail as well as context for a greater understand of Santob's philosophy. Next, the book offers a dialogue with the work itself, which looks at politics, sociology, anthropology, psychology, ethics, aesthetics, metaphysics, and theodicy. The aim is not to provide an exhaustive analysis, or to comment on each and every verse, but rather to deal only with the most relevant for today’s world. Readers will discover how Santob believed knowledge must be dynamic, and tolerance fundamental, fleeing from dogma, since one cannot avoid a significant dose of moral and aesthetic relativism. Subjectivity, within its own codes, must seek a profound ethics, not puritanical but which serves to escape from general ill will. Santob offers a criticism of wealth and power that does not serve the people which appears to be totally relevant today. In spite of the fame he achieved in his own time, Santob has largely remained a vestige of the past. By the end of this book, readers will come to see why this important figure deserves to be more widely studied. Indeed, not only has this medieval Spanish philosopher searched for truth in an unstable, confused world of contradictions, but he has done so in a way that can still help us today. Front Matter....Pages i-xviii Front Matter....Pages 1-1 The Life of Rabbi Santob....Pages 3-9 Works of Santob....Pages 11-13 The Book: Proverbs....Pages 15-17 Originals....Pages 19-20 Philosophy in the Spanish Kingdoms in the Time of Santob....Pages 21-26 Some Notable Features of Santob’s Original Philosophy....Pages 27-35 Carrión at the Time of Santob....Pages 37-39 The Jews of That Period and the Jews in Carrión....Pages 41-47 Palencia and Europe at That Time....Pages 49-50 The Kings of Castile and Leon: Alfonso XI, Pedro I, the Cruel and Enrique II of Castile. The Political and Civil Environment of the Work of Santob....Pages 51-59 Front Matter....Pages 61-61 Dialogue with Santob: Reflections on Politics, Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Ethics Aesthetics, Metaphysics and Theodicy....Pages 63-72 Prologue....Pages 73-79 I: Skepticism....Pages 81-84 II: Our World Isn’t Logic....Pages 85-91 III: Contraries, Irrational World....Pages 93-103 IV: Social Adaptability....Pages 105-113 V: World’s and Humans’ Variety....Pages 115-120 VI: Avarice, Our Most Known Characteristic....Pages 121-127 VII: Needless Life of Wiser....Pages 129-133 VIII: Self-Control and Other’s Control....Pages 135-141 Front Matter....Pages 61-61 IX: Human Misery and Being Giving....Pages 143-148 X: Books, the Best Wisdom....Pages 149-153 XI: Philosophy of Law and Judgement....Pages 155-159 XII: The Fall of a Society....Pages 161-166 XIII: Life Is Sorrow, But Wisdom Is Useful....Pages 167-171 XIV: Little Words, Big Actions. Writing’s Philosophy....Pages 173-178 XV: Pleasures, Newness and Morals....Pages 179-183 XVI: Knowledge and Friendship....Pages 185-188 XVII: Problematic Relationships....Pages 189-193 XVIII: Philosophy of Language and Silence....Pages 195-203 XIX: The Virtues of Language....Pages 205-209 XX: Wisdom in a Contradictory World....Pages 211-215 XXI: Cosmology....Pages 217-221 XXII: United Power in the King....Pages 223-227 Back Matter....Pages 229-234 Introduction To The Historical And Cultural Context -- The Life Of Rabbi Santob -- Works Of Santob -- The Book : Proverbs -- Originals -- Philosophy In The Spanish Kingdoms In The Time Of Santob -- Some Notable Features Of Santob's Original Philosophy -- Carrion At The Time Of Santob -- The Jews Of That Period And The Jews In Carrion -- Palencia And Europe At That Time -- The Kings Of Castile And Leon : Alfonso Xi, Pedro I, The Cruel And Enrique Ii Of Castile : The Political And Civil Environment Of The Work Of Santob -- Dialogue With Santob : Reflections On Politics, Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, Ethics Aesthetics, Metaphysics And Theodicy -- Prologue -- I : Skepticism -- Ii : Our World Isn't Logic -- Iii : Contraries, Irrational World -- Iv : Social Adaptability -- V : World's And Humans' Variety -- Vi : Avarice, Our Most Known Characteristic -- Vii : Needless Life Of Wiser -- Viii : Self-control And Other's Control -- Ix : Human Misery And Being Giving -- X : Books, The Best Wisdom -- Xi : Philosophy Of Law And Judgement -- Xii : The Fall Of A Society -- Xiii : Life Is Sorrow, But Wisdom Is Useful -- Xiv : Little Words, Big Actions : Writing's Philosophy -- Xv : Pleasures, Newness And Morals -- Xvi : Knowledge And Friendship -- Xvii : Problematic Relationships -- Xviii : Philosophy Of Language And Silence -- Xix : The Virtues Of Language -- Xx : Wisdom In A Contradictory World -- Xxi : Cosmology -- Xxii : United Power In The King -- References. Ilia Galán Díez. Includes Bibliographical References.