Perspectives on Maimonides

Leading scholars have combined forces toproduce this volume on the philosophy and legal views of Moses Maimonides(1138–1204) and the historical context in which he worked. The philosophicalsection examines Maimonides’ ethical doctrine; his paradoxical life-style; his Guide of the Perplexed; his attitude tomysticism; his use of language; and his theory of astronomy. The legal sectiondeals with law and medicine, the relation of Maimonides’ legal thought to theTalmud; his doctrine of a just war; and his theory of redemption andMessianism. The history section examines Maimonides’ accession to the positionof head of the Jewish community in its historical context, at the time of therise of the ‘Ayyubid dynasty under Saladin.