ABSTRACT
Maimonides there defines a demonstrative syllogism as one whose premises are certain. This chapter focuses on the way Maimonides explores the relation between Judaism and science, as reflected in his selective appropriation of Aristotle's conception of science. By the twelfth century, the influence of Aristotle had taken hold among Jewish philosophers. The crisis between Aristotelian celestial physics and Ptolemaic astronomy reached its apogee during the time of Maimonides and Gersonides. The chapter explores briefly Maimonides' use of Aristotelian method. It turns to his cosmological speculation that highlights the tensions between Genesis, Aristotle and Ptolemy. The chapter discusses the implications of a hylomorphic ontology with respect to human perfection. It also focuses on Maimonides' interpretative challenges in accommodating Judaism to the texts of Aristotle. Maimonides is reluctant to admit that God kisses Miriam directly, presumably because to kiss a female is unseemly for the Deity.
