View source for Joseph Albo

{{Short description|Jewish philosopher}}
{{Jewish philosophy|expanded=Medieval}}
'''Joseph Albo''' ({{langx|he|יוסף אלבו}}; {{circa|1380|1444}}) was a [[Jews|Jewish]] [[philosophy|philosopher]] and [[rabbi]] who lived in [[Spain]] during the fifteenth century, known chiefly as the author of ''[[Sefer ha-Ikkarim]]'' ("Book of Principles"), the classic work on the [[Jewish principles of faith|fundamentals of Judaism]].

==Biography==
Albo's birthplace is generally assumed to be [[Monreal del Campo]], a town in [[Aragon]].  This is based on [[Astruc ha-Levi]]'s report of the [[Disputation of Tortosa|religious debate held at Tortosa]] in 1413-14, which mentions Albo as one of the Jewish participants and notes he was the delegate of the congregation of Monreal. However, the [[Latin]] account of this debate makes no reference to this locality.

[[Heinrich Graetz]] believes that Albo could not have been less than thirty years of age when he was sent to take part in the disputation, and he accordingly places the date of Albo's birth not later than 1380. His date of death is given variously as 1444 (most likely) or 1430. He is mentioned, however, as preaching at [[Soria]] in 1433.

The use Albo makes of medical illustrations creates the presumption that he was adept in medical science, which suggests that he may have practiced [[medicine]]. He was versed to some degree in the writings of [[Arab]] [[Aristotle|Aristotelians]]. His teacher was [[Hasdai Crescas]], author of ''[[Or Adonai]].'' Opinions vary on whether Crescas was still alive when ''[[Sefer HaIkkarim]]'' was published.

==''Sefer ha-Ikkarim''==
{{Main article|Sefer ha-Ikkarim}}

Albo is best known for his philosophical work, ''Sefer ha-Ikkarim'' ("Book of Principles"), completed in 1425 in [[Soria]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{JewishEncyclopedia|url=http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/1084-albo-joseph|title=ALBO, JOSEPH}}
* Philippe Bobichon, ''Sefer ha-'Iqqarim « Livre des Principes » III, 25 Un chapitre de la controverse judéo-chétienne dans l'Espagne du XV e siècle'' (texte hébreu traduction, commentaires), Madrid, CSIC, 2015 [https://www.academia.edu/45580073/Draft_PDF_Sefer_ha_Iqqarim_Livre_des_Principes_III_25_Un_chapitre_de_la_controverse_jud%C3%A9o_ch%C3%A9tienne_dans_lEspagne_du_XV_e_si%C3%A8cle online]
* Philippe Bobichon, "Polémique anti-chrétienne et théologie dans le Sefer ha-‘Iqqarim (« Livre des Principes ») de Joseph Albo (xve s.)" Yod 15/2010, pp. 115- 143 [https://www.academia.edu/7279931/_Pol%C3%A9mique_anti_chr%C3%A9tienne_et_th%C3%A9ologie_dans_le_Sefer_ha_Iqqarim_Livre_des_Principes_de_Joseph_Albo_xve_s_Jewish_Christian_Controversy_in_Yod_INALCO_Revue_des_%C3%A9tudes_h%C3%A9bra%C3%AFques_et_juives_modernes_et_contemporaines_NS_15_2010_p_115_143_http_yod_revues_org_673_ online]

==External links==
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20050208223316/http://radicalacademy.com/adiphiljewish3.htm#albo Joseph Albo - (c. 1380 - 1445)]}}, Adventures in Philosophy
* {{SEP|albo-joseph|Joseph Albo|Dror Ehrlich}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Albo, Joseph}}
[[Category:1380 births]]
[[Category:1444 deaths]]
[[Category:15th-century Spanish philosophers]]
[[Category:Philosophers of Judaism]]
[[Category:15th-century Aragonese rabbis]]
[[Category:Jewish apologists]]
[[Category:Medieval Jewish philosophers]]
[[Category:15th-century writers from the Crown of Aragon]]