Prerequisites: None

Exam Type: No Exam

This offering will explore Maimonides’ comprehensive reinterpretation of the Jewish tradition in light of his philosophical commitments and religious sensibilities. The diverse topics will be studied through close readings from Maimonides major works – “Guide of the Perplexed”, his code “Mishne Torah”, and the “Commentary on the Mishnah”. Special attention will be devoted to the examination of Maimonides’ outlook in relation to alternative positions that emerged from the encounter of religion and philosophy within Islamic medieval thought and other Jewish thinkers such as Sa’adya Gaon and Yehuda Ha-Levi.

Topics (the sequence of the topics follows the order of the Guide of the Perplexed):

1. Religious language and Idolatry, the limits of knowledge
2. Creation and Eternity, Will or Wisdom
3. Prophecy and Human Perfection
4. The Problem of Evil
5. Providence and Causality
6. The meaning and aims of the Commandments
7. The philosopher and the law
8. Love and Fear
9. The Virtuous Life

The analysis of the diverse themes will be conducted in conversation with the work of scholars such as Leo Strauss, Shlomo Pines, Sarah Stroumsa, Sarah Klein-Breslavy, Joseph Stern and others.

Not: This course is cross-listed with FAS as JEWISHST 212 and will meet at FAS.