Moses Mendelssohn was a German Jewish philosopher whose ideas indebted the Haskalah, the Jewish enlightenment of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Though a practicing orthodox Jew himself, he has been referred to as the father of Reform Judaism. Through his writings on philosophy and religion, he became regarded as a leading cultural figure of his time by both Germans and Jews. His thought influenced not only religious movements but also the German Enlightenment as a whole.
Discover the philosophical works of Moses Mendelssohn, one of the most significant thinkers of the Enlightenment. This collection includes many of his most famous essays and treatises, offering readers a deep and insightful look into his ideas and beliefs.
Published in Germany in 1783, this work by Moses Mendelssohn is an important text in the history of Jewish philosophy. Mendelssohn's treatise argues for the compatibility of traditional Jewish faith and Enlightenment-era rationalism, and he offers a critique of Christian theological arguments. This book is essential reading for those interested in the development of Jewish thought and German Enlightenment philosophy.
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Moses Mendelssohn (1729–1786) was the central figure in the emancipation of European Jewry. His intellect, judgment, and tact won the admiration and friendship of contemporaries as illustrious as Johann Gottfried Herder, Gotthold Ephraim Lessing, and Immanuel Kant. His enormously influential Jerusalem (1783) made the case for religious tolerance, a cause he worked for all his life. Last Works includes, for the first time complete and in a single volume, the English translation of Morning Hours: Lectures on the Existence of God (1785) and To the Friends of Lessing (1786). Bruce Rosenstock has also provided an historical introduction and an extensive philosophical commentary to both texts. At the center of Mendelssohn's last works is his friendship with Lessing. Mendelssohn hoped to show that he, a Torah-observant Jew, and Lessing, Germany's leading dramatist, had forged a life-long friendship that held out the promise of a tolerant and enlightened culture in which religious strife would be a thing of the past. Lessing's death in 1781 was a severe blow to Mendelssohn. Mendelssohn wrote his last two works to commemorate Lessing and to carry on the work to which they had dedicated much of their lives. Morning Hours treats a range of major philosophical topics: the nature of truth, the foundations of human knowledge, the basis of our moral and aesthetic powers of judgment, the reality of the external world, and the grounds for a rational faith in a providential deity. It is also a key text for Mendelssohn's readings of Spinoza. In To the Friends of Lessing, Mendelssohn attempts to unmask the individual whom he believes to be the real enemy of the enlightened state: the Schwärmer, the religious fanatic who rejects reason in favor of belief in suprarational revelation.
Exploring profound epistemological and metaphysical themes, this work presents Moses Mendelssohn's arguments for the existence of God while engaging in the intellectual conflict known as the Pantheismusstreit with F. H. Jacobi. It serves not only as a theoretical treatise but also as Mendelssohn's defense of his friend Lessing against accusations related to pantheism. He argues that there is no significant practical difference between theism and a "purified pantheism," making this work a significant contribution to philosophical discourse of its time.
Exploring the intersection of reason, morality, and religion, this collection features the writings of Moses Mendelssohn, a prominent Jewish philosopher of the Enlightenment. He posits that truth is rooted in reason and advocates for a harmonious relationship between religion and rational thought. Additionally, Mendelssohn emphasizes the importance of aesthetics, celebrating the beauty and harmony found in nature and art. This work significantly contributes to 18th-century German Enlightenment and Jewish philosophy, preserving Mendelssohn's legacy for future generations.
The book is a facsimile reprint of an original antiquarian work, which may include imperfections like marks and flawed pages due to its age. It is offered as part of an initiative to preserve and promote culturally significant literature, ensuring access to high-quality, modern editions that remain true to the original text.
Ein Anhang Zu Herrn Jacobi Briefwechsel Uber Die Lehre Des Spinoza (1786)
Moses Mendelssohn's 1786 letter to friends explores Spinoza's philosophy, particularly its compatibility with Jewish religion. As an appendix to his correspondence with Jacobi, Mendelssohn delves into the interplay between reason and revelation, making significant contributions to the discourse on Spinoza's ideas. This work is pivotal for understanding the Jewish Enlightenment and the evolution of Jewish philosophy, highlighting its cultural importance. The book is presented as a facsimile reprint, maintaining the integrity of the original text.
This is the first modern translation of Moses Mendelssohn’s classic work of 1767, the Phädon . It includes Mendelssohn’s own introduction and appendix, as well as footnotes and explanatory introduction by David Shavin. (Charles Cullen’s translation of 1789 is the only other extant translation.) The «modern Socrates» of the German classical period, Mendelssohn has created a beautiful translation and elaboration of Plato’s Phädo led to a revolution in thought, and a subsequent renaissance in Germany. The debt of the German classical period to ancient Greece is embodied in Mendelssohn’s Phädon , as is the promise of the American Revolution. The translation and accompanying notes recapture Mendelssohn’s unique marriage of depth of thought and breadth of appeal.
Moses Mendelssohn (1729-86) is considered the father of the Jewish Enlightenment and the last great Leibnizian in the German philosophical tradition. One of his most successful works was this dialogue on the immortality of the soul, modelled on Plato's "Phaedo".