The Guide of the Perplexed
by Maimonides · Dalalat al-ha'irin
Assigned by 1 of the 9 reading lists, catalogue entry only
- Written
- c. 1190
- Era
- Medieval
- Form
- Theology
- Language
- Arabic
- Length
- Epic · 700 ppover 700 pages
- Difficulty
- Formidable5 of 5 for a first-year reader
We recommendThe Guide of the Perplexed, translated by Shlomo PinesUniversity of Chicago Press, 1963The scholarly standard in English, in two volumes, with Leo Strauss's essay on how to read the book.
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Written in Judeo-Arabic as a long letter to a former student, the Guide is addressed to readers who know both philosophy and the Law and cannot see how they fit. Part One reads the physical language of scripture, God's hand, place and speech, as figurative, and argues that nothing positive can be said of God at all, only what he is not. Part Two examines the Aristotelian proofs of God and the eternity of the world, defends creation as possible rather than demonstrated, and explains prophecy. Part Three turns to providence, the book of Job, evil, and the reasons behind the commandments.
No reading guide yet
The catalogue entry above is complete: the dates, the form, the themes and every program that assigns The Guide of the Perplexed are verified against each program's published list.
What is missing is the part that takes real work: the summary, the key passages, and a recommended translation. The edition named below is the one most programs assign, so the buy links are useful already.
