Sefer ha-maʿalot

work by Ibn Falaquera

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

Sefer ha-ma'alot ("Book of Degrees") is a work by the Spanish-born Jewish philosopher and translator Ibn Falaquera (c. 1225–c. 1295). This treatise advocates for the Neoplatonic ideal of the contemplative life. Ibn Falaquera was a key figure in reconciling Jewish Orthodoxy with philosophy and defended the works of Moses Maimonides against traditionalist attacks. His writings aimed to bridge the gap between philosophical inquiry and religious observance, contributing significantly to medieval Jewish thought.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Ibn Falaquera
…end of the 15th century; Sefer ha-maʿalot (“Book of Degrees”), which advocates the Neoplatonic ideal of the contemplative life; a commentary on Maimonides’ Guide under the title More ha-more (“Guide of the Guide”); and an abstract of Ibn Gabirol’s influential Fons vitae in Hebrew.
Read More
…end of the 15th century; Sefer ha-maʿalot (“Book of Degrees”), which advocates the Neoplatonic ideal of the contemplative life; a commentary on Maimonides’ Guide under the title More ha-more (“Guide of the Guide”); and an abstract of Ibn Gabirol’s influential Fons vitae in Hebrew.
Read More