Maimonides was a Spanish rabbi who lived between 1135 and 1204 AD. He wrote several influential works, including the Mishneh Torah, The Commentary on the Mishnah, The Book of Commandments, and The Guide for the Perplexed. His commentary on the Mishnah established the idea that God exists and should be the sole subject of worship. The Mishneh Torah is his most important work, serving as a compendium for interpreting Jewish law. The Guide for the Perplexed attempts to unite Judaic philosophy with the philosophy of Aristotle and addresses how Jews should interpret scientific developments. Maimonides believed that the truths of science cannot be incompatible with the truths of God, making his work controversial but respected by most sects of Judaism.
Maimonides, whose full name was Moses ben Maimon, was a Spanish rabbi who lived between about 1135 and 1204 AD. He was also known as RaMBaM, or Rambam, an acronym for Rabbi Moses ben Maimon. His work has remained extraordinarily important and influential among Jews and non-Jews alike. Maimonides’ major writing achievements were the Mishneh Torah, The Commentary on the Mishnah, The Book of Commandments, and The Guide for the Perplexed. All but the Mishneh Torah are written in Arabic.
Maimonides’ commentary on the Mishnah is considered a foundational text for Orthodox Jews today. It establishes the idea that God exists. In it Maimonides also says that God should also be seen as spiritual, incorporeal and eternal, and should be the sole subject of worship. Furthermore, Maimonides argues that God revealed wisdom to him through prophets, with Moshe, or Moses, being the first and foremost prophet. Maimonides also reinforces the idea that the Torah is God’s law and that God understands human actions before they occur, rewarding good behavior and punishing bad behavior. Finally, Maimonides establishes in his Commentary that there will be a resurrection of the dead and a coming of the Messiah.
The Mishneh Torah is perhaps Maimonides’ most important work. Normally, Jews consult the Torah along with the Talmud to determine how to act in a given situation. The Rambam created the Mishneh Torah as a kind of compendium that Jews could consult for answers on how to act according to Jewish law in a given situation. Initially, other rabbis dismissed the work because while it comments on the Torah and Talmud, it does not specifically refer to passages. However, the commentary has been widely accepted as a useful tool for interpreting Jewish law.
The Guide for the Perplexed is an intriguing piece of philosophy that draws on the philosophy of Maimonides more than the somewhat closely related Platonic and Aristotelian thought. That is, The Guide is an attempt to unite Judaic philosophy with the philosophy of Aristotle. It also addresses how Jews should interpret scientific developments.
Maimonides makes a statement that fuels debate in virtually all Bible-based religions. He believes that the truths of science cannot be incompatible with the truths of God. So, in a sense, science is the work of God and should not be denied if it is not consistent with the previous science or medicine practiced in the Torah or when parts of the Talmud were written.
Essentially Maimonides acknowledges that life goes on and that God is behind the new science. Thus some old ways can be discarded for new ways without disobeying God’s law. This topic remains controversial, yet it is endorsed by various people of various religions.
While some of Maimonides’ theories are controversial, he is considered a heroic scholar by most Jews. He wrote at a time when Jewish oppression forced him from his home. Furthermore, the controversial nature of his writings makes him a free thinker, something respected by most sects of Judaism. Maimonides accepts the paradox in the religious texts he comments on, and on the nature of God, and this gives his work a modern or postmodern aspect. His work remains vibrant and relevant to philosophers today.
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