ABSTRACT

Written by the great medieval Jewish philosopher Maimonides, The Guide of the Perplexed attempts to explain the perplexities of biblical language—and apparent inconsistencies in the text—in the light of philosophy and scientific reason. 

Composed as a letter to a student, The Guide aims to harmonize Aristotelian principles with the Hebrew Bible and argues that God must be understood as both unified and incorporeal. Engaging both contemporary and ancient scholars, Maimonides fluidly moves from cosmology to the problem of evil to the end goal of human happiness. His intellectual breadth and openness makes The Guide a lasting model of creative synthesis in biblical studies and philosophical theology.

chapter |5 pages

Ways in to the Text

part Section 1|17 pages

Influences

chapter Module 1|4 pages

The Author and the Historical Context

chapter Module 2|4 pages

Academic Context

chapter Module 3|4 pages

The Problem

chapter Module 4|4 pages

The Author's Contribution

part Section 2|19 pages

Ideas

chapter Module 5|5 pages

Main Ideas

chapter Module 6|5 pages

Secondary Ideas

chapter Module 7|4 pages

Achievement

chapter Module 8|4 pages

Place in the Author's Work

part Section 3|17 pages

Impact

chapter Module 9|4 pages

The First Responses

chapter Module 10|4 pages

The Evolving Debate

chapter Module 11|4 pages

Impact and Influence Today

chapter Module 12|4 pages

Where Next?