what do most modern Jewish people think about the Hellenised Jew Philo Judaeus?

Question

He was the Jewish Platonist who interpreted the Torah from a Greek philosophical perspective.
Also, has anyone spoken in favour of Baruch de Spinoza, the Renaissance/Enlightment Jewish thinker who was excommunicated for his rationalist perspective?

Answer 1

Have to admire that he stood up to Caligula in the name of G-d and refused to recognize a Roman Emperor as a god and objected to his statue being placed in the Temple.

We also can't help but enjoy that a guy who hung out with Plato day and night, called Moses, "the summit of philosophy".

He used philosophy to show the truths in the Torah. A lot of the methods he used were garbled and confused, introducing screwy numerology and questionable grammar, perhaps because he didn't have a strong background in Hebrew, so he was working from a Greek translation of the Torah.

His ideas about man's stages ethical development remind me of Piaget, a little.

And his description of the Jews' plight at the hands of the Romans was more human and empathetic than Josepheus' cold blooded record.

Spinoza was a systematic and brilliant philosopher, who was put in cherem, (I assume) for speaking out against Jewish beliefs. He wasn't exactly an atheist, but rather more of a pantheist, equating G-d with nature or the natural world.

Judaism teaches that G-d is involved in the world, and rejects pantheism.

His ideas were important to philosophy, and his view of the human mind made significant contributions to the field that would become psychology. Einstein grooved on his view of G-d, and on his determinism.

His ideas, that free will is an illusion based on man's ignorance, that morality is defined by physical sensation, and his equating G-d with nature, are all contrary to everything Judaism stands for.

Answer 2

Whoa...Philo was NOT a Hellenized Jew.
He was educated in Greek philosophy (secular studies) and Torah. But he was an observant Jew and taught Jewish observance in Alexandria. He was a precursor of Maimonides in this sense. If he were around today he would be modern-orthodox.

The Hellenists were Jews trying to imitate and assist the gentiles (Greeks) to war-down the religious Jews.

Spinoza was an important middle ages philosopher but whose philosophy went way beyond the pale of Judaism, or even basic monotheism.

(Hence, the leaders of modern Israel today are also called Hellenists)
http://www.aish.com/literacy/jewishhistory/Crash_Course_in_Jewish_History_Part_28_-_Greek_Persecution.asp

Answer 3

Philo Judaeus was a philosopher; beyond that, I know very little about him, although I'd certainly be interested in learning what he had to say (along with the 37 million other topics of interest in the world...sigh). Ditto for Spinoza, I'm afraid. I'm really not a student of philosophy, though; I'm more science-minded. It's probably a topic that rabbis would have studied more than the average Jewish individual, so perhaps you might talk with one if you get the opportunity.

Answer 4

I think most Jewish scholars are the only ones to think about Philo Judaeus.

Answer 5

In my opinion Philo tainted Judaism and gave it a goyishe shade that didn't belong there.
Spinoza was just nuts.

Answer 6

I think of none of them because they are just an extension of the religious nonsense.

Answer 7

Most modern Jewish people don't think about either one of them.

Answer 8

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!