The guide for the perplexed

"The Guide for the Perplexed" by Moses Maimonides is a philosophical treatise written in the late 12th century. This significant work seeks to address the challenges faced by those who struggle to reconcile their faith with philosophical reasoning, specifically within the context of Jewish thought. Maimonides explores complex theological concepts including the nature of God, prophecy, and the interpretation of scripture, making it essential reading for students and scholars of theology and philosophy. At the start of the text, a preface introduces the second edition of the English translation, highlighting the necessity of making Maimonides' work accessible to students of theology and Jewish literature. The content outlines Maimonides' life, his experiences during a time of religious turmoil, and his contributions to Jewish scholarship. Furthermore, it touches upon the Plan for the work, including sections on similes and directions for study, signaling the blend of philosophical argumentation with scriptural analysis that defines the work as a whole. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Moses ben Maimon (1138–1204), commonly known as Maimonides and also referred to by the Hebrew acronym Rambam, was a Sephardic rabbi and philosopher who became one of the most prolific and influential Torah scholars of the Middle Ages. In his time, he was also a preeminent astronomer and physician, serving as the personal physician of Saladin. He was born and lived in Córdoba in al-Andalus within the Almoravid Empire on Passover eve 1138 or 1135, until his family was expelled for refusing to convert to Islam. Later, he lived in Morocco and Egypt and worked as a rabbi, physician and philosopher.