The Guide for the Perplexed

Moses Maimonides

• Publisher: Dover Publications
• Year: 2012
• Print ISBN: 9780486203515
• eBook ISBN: 9780486119649
• Topic: Philosophy
• Subtopic: Jewish History

This is the full, unabridged text of one of the greatest philosophic works of all time. Written by a 12th- century thinker who was equally active as an original philosopher and as a Biblical and Talmudic scholar, it is both a classic of great historical importance and a work of living significance today.
The Guide for the Perplexed was written for scholars who were bewildered by the conflict between religion and the scientific and philosophic thought of the day. It is concerned, basically, with finding a concord between the religion of the Old Testament and its commentaries, and Aristotelian philosophy. After analyzing the ideas of the Old Testament by means of "homonyms," Maimonides examines other reconciliations of religion and philosophy (the Moslem rationalists) and then proposes his own resolution with contemporary Aristotelianism.
The Guide for the Perplexed was at once recognized as a masterwork, and it strongly influenced Jewish, Christian, and Moslem thought of the Middle Ages. It is necessary reading for any full comprehension of the thought of such scholastics as Aquinas and Scotus, and indispensable for everyone interested in the Middle Ages, Judaism, medieval philosophy, or the larger problems which Maimonides discusses.

PREFACE TO VOLUME ONE OF THE FIRST EDITION

IN compliance with a desire repeatedly expressed by the Committee of the Hebrew Literature Society, I have undertaken to translate Maimonides’ Dalal

t al-

airin, better known by the Hebrew title Moreh Nebuchim, and I offer the first instalment of my labours in the present volume. This contains—(1) A short Life of Maimonides, in which special attention is given to his alleged apostasy. (2) An analysis of the whole of the Moreh Nebuchim. (3) A translation of the First Part of this work from the Arabic, with explanatory and critical notes.

 

Parts of the Translation have been contributed by Mr. Joseph Abrahams, B.A., Ph.D., and Rev. H. Gollancz—the Introduction by the former, and the first twenty–five chapters by the latter.

In conclusion I beg to tender my thanks to Rev. A. Loewy, Editor of the Publications of the Hebrew Literature Society, for his careful revision of my manuscript and proofs, and to Mr. A. Neubauer, M.A., for his kindness in supplying me with such information as I required.

M. FRIEDLÄNDER.

JEWS’ COLLEGE, June 1881.

Table of Contents

Title Page
Copyright Page
PREFACE
PREFACE TO VOLUME ONE OF THE FIRST EDITION
THE LIFE OF MOSES MAIMONIDES
THE MOREH NEBUCHIM LITERATURE
ANALYSIS OF THE GUIDE FOR THE PERPLEXED
INTRODUCTION
PART I

CHAPTER I
CHAPTER II
CHAPTER III
CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER V
CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER X
CHAPTER XI
CHAPTER XII
CHAPTER XIII
CHAPTER XIV
CHAPTER XV
CHAPTER XVI
CHAPTER XVII
CHAPTER XVIII
CHAPTER XIX
CHAPTER XX
CHAPTER XXI
CHAPTER XXII
CHAPTER XXIII
CHAPTER XXIV
CHAPTER XXV
CHAPTER XXVI
CHAPTER XXVII
CHAPTER XXVIII
CHAPTER XXIX
CHAPTER XXX
CHAPTER XXXI
CHAPTER XXXII
CHAPTER XXXIII
CHAPTER XXXIV
CHAPTER XXXV
CHAPTER XXXVI
CHAPTER XXXVII
CHAPTER XXXVIII
CHAPTER XXXIX
CHAPTER XL
CHAPTER XLI...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• PREFACE
• PREFACE TO VOLUME ONE OF THE FIRST EDITION
• Table of Contents
• THE LIFE OF MOSES MAIMONIDES
• THE MOREH NEBUCHIM LITERATURE
• ANALYSIS OF THE GUIDE FOR THE PERPLEXED
• INTRODUCTION
• PART I
• PART II
• PART III
• INDEX
• INDEX OF QUOTATIONS FROM THE TARGUMIM.
• INDEX OF QUOTATIONS FROM THE MIDRASHIM.
• INDEX OF QUOTATIONS FROM THE TALMUD.
• REFERENCES TO WORKS OF MAIMONIDES.
• GENERAL INDEX.
• A CATALOG OF SELECTED DOVER BOOKS IN ALL FIELDS OF INTEREST
• DOVER BOOKS ON WESTERN PHILOSOPHY