SOURCE: Adlerblum, Nima H. “Gersonides—His Life and Works,” “Gersonides as a Scholastic,” “Gersonides in His Proper Perspective Setting.” In A Study of Gersonides in His Proper Perspective, pp. 22-126. New York: Columbia University Press, 1926.

In the following excerpt, Adlerblum examines what little is known of Gersonides's life; explains his interest in astronomy, philosophy, and metaphysics; analyzes his writing style; summarizes the arguments of his opponents; and attempts to describe the historical setting in which his work was created.

His Life and Works

Of all Jewish philosophers, Gersonides is the one in whom scholasticism reached its highest articulation. We are here treating of Gersonides only in so far as a study of him would illustrate our chief contentions. Even with scholasticism at its best, a reversing of the historical method is bound to yield more fruitful results. It is therefore our aim to seek for the Jewish element...