19 - A Constructive Jewish Theology of God and Perfect Goodness

Jerome Yehuda Gellman

doi:10.1017/9781108233705.019

19 - A Constructive Jewish Theology of God and Perfect Goodness

Jerome Yehuda Gellman

Department of Philosophy

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

Abstract

I argue that a traditional Jewish conception of God should be that of a perfectly good being. This follows from the demand for our maximal love of God. A perfectly good being must have a perfectly good character and need have power and knowledge only to the degree needed to express its perfectly good character. It need not be omnipotent or omniscient. It would be eternal and creator and sustainer of the world. It is an open question whether God must be a metaphysically necessary being.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	The Cambridge Companion to Jewish Theology
Publisher	Cambridge University Press
Pages	453-466
Number of pages	14
ISBN (Electronic)	9781108233705
ISBN (Print)	9781108415439
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108233705.019
State	Published - 1 Jan 2020

Keywords

fear of God
maximal love of God
omnipotence
omniscience
perfect being
perfectly good being
perfectly good character

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Arts and Humanities

Access to Document

10.1017/9781108233705.019

Cite this

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19 - A Constructive Jewish Theology of God and Perfect Goodness

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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