Moses Maimonides
Jewish physician and philosopher: of God we can say only what he is not, and the finest praise is silence.
Life
Moses Maimonides (1138-1204), born in Cordoba, was a Jewish rabbi, physician and philosopher. Forced out of Spain by the Almohads, he settled in Cairo, where he became a court physician. His Mishneh Torah arranges the whole of Jewish law, and his Guide of the Perplexed tries to reconcile the Law with Aristotle's philosophy: of God, he says, we can only deny attributes. He is a major figure in Judaism and influenced Thomas Aquinas.
Main works
A commentary on the Mishnah, including his thirteen principles of faith.
A complete code of Jewish law, opening with the existence of God and treating free will.
He reconciles the Law with reason and defends negative theology.
In his own words
« Free will is granted to all men. If one desires to turn himself to the path of good and be righteous, the choice is his. Should he desire to turn to the path of evil and be wicked, the choice is his. »
רְשׁוּת לְכָל אָדָם נְתוּנָה. אִם רָצָה לְהַטּוֹת עַצְמוֹ לְדֶרֶךְ טוֹבָה וְלִהְיוֹת צַדִּיק הָרְשׁוּת בְּיָדוֹ. וְאִם רָצָה לְהַטּוֹת עַצְמוֹ לְדֶרֶךְ רָעָה וְלִהְיוֹת רָשָׁע הָרְשׁוּת בְּיָדוֹ.
« The foundation of all foundations and the pillar of wisdom is to know that there is a Primary Being who brought into being all existence. »
יְסוֹד הַיְסוֹדוֹת וְעַמּוּד הַחָכְמוֹת לֵידַע שֶׁיֵּשׁ שָׁם מָצוּי רִאשׁוֹן. וְהוּא מַמְצִיא כָּל נִמְצָא.
Positions
click a row to see the evidenceGod exists and is one, but we can only say what he is not (negative attributes).
Maïmonide, Le Guide des égarés (vers 1190), I
Free will is given to every person: each can become righteous or wicked.
Maïmonide, Mishné Torah, Hilkhot Teshouva V (vers 1180)
The Law and reason agree, but reason has limits: it cannot prove that the world was created.
Maïmonide, Le Guide des égarés (vers 1190), II
The highest aim of a human life is to know God as far as one can.
Maïmonide, Le Guide des égarés (vers 1190), III