Guide for the Perplexed, Part 2
Moses Maimonides
49 chapters · 8 h 47 min · English
Read by Kazbek, Geoffrey Edwards, jenno, nzk13, Larry Wilson, KevinS and others
Other religions · Medieval
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In the Guide of the Perplexed Maimonides (Moses ben Maimon) achieved an original and highly influential synthesis of religious and secular learning, drawing on Rabbinical teachings, the Aristotelian and neo-Platonic doctrines then current in the Islamic world, as well as his own scriptural exegeses and philosophical arguments. According to Encyclopaedia Judaica , "almost every philosophic work for the remainder of the Middle Ages cited, commented on, or criticized Maimonides' views." - Summary by Kazbek
Chapters
1 The Author's Introduction. The Twenty-Six Propositions employed by the Philosophers to prove the Existence of God 19 min 2 I. Philosophical proofs for the Existence, Incorporeality, and Unity of the First Cause 26 min 3 II. On the Existence of Intelligences or purely Spiritual Beings 7 min 4 Ill. The Author adopts the Theory of Aristotle as least open to Objections 2 min 5 IV. The Spheres and the Causes of their Motion 12 min 6 V. Agreement of the Aristotelian Theory with the Teaching of Scripture 5 min 7 VI. What is meant by the Scriptural Term "Angels" 10 min 8 VII. The Homonymity of the term "Angel" 2 min 9 VIII. On the Music of the Spheres 2 min 10 IX. On the Number of the Heavenly Spheres 4 min 11 X. The Influence of the Spheres upon the Earth manifests itself in four different ways 12 min 12 XI. The Theory of Eccentricity Preferable to that of Epicycles 10 min 13 XII. On the Nature of the Divine Influence and that of the Spheres 11 min 14 XIII. Three Different Theories about the Beginning of the Universe 15 min 15 XIV. Seven Methods by which the Philosophers sought to prove the Eternity of the Universe 11 min 16 XV. Aristotle does not scientifically demonstrate his Theory 7 min 17 XVI. The Author refutes all Objections to Creatio ex nihilo 3 min 18 XVII. The Laws of Nature apply to Things Created, but do not regulate the Creative Act which produces them 14 min 19 XVIII. Examinations of the Proofs of Philosophers for the Eternity of the Universe 14 min 20 XIX. Design in Nature 27 min 21 XX. The Opinion of Aristotle as regards Design in Nature 8 min 22 XXI. Explanation of the Aristotelian Theory that the Universe is the necessary Result of the First Cause 9 min 23 XXII. Objections to the Theory of the Eternity of the Universe 14 min 24 XXIII. The Theory of Creatio ex nihilo is preferable to that of the Eternity of the Universe 6 min 25 XXIV. Difficulty of Comprehending the Nature and the Motion of the Spheres according to the Theory of Aristotle 16 min 26 XXV. The Theory of Creation is adopted because of its own Superiority, the Proofs based on Scripture being Inconclusive 8 min 27 XXVI. Examination of a passage from Pirke di-Rabbi Eliezer in reference to Creation 6 min 28 XXVII. The Theory of a Future Destruction of the Universe is not part of the Religious Belief taught in the Bible 4 min 29 XXVIII. Scriptural Teaching is in favour of the Indestructibility of the Universe 8 min 30 XXIX. Explanation of Scriptural Phrases implying the Destruction of Heaven and Earth 33 min 31 XXX. Philosophical Interpretation of Genesis i.-iv 31 min 32 XXXI. The Institution of the Sabbath serves (1) to Teach the Theory of Creation, and (2) to promote Man's Welfare 4 min 33 XXXII. Three Theories concerning Prophecy 11 min 34 XXXIII. The Difference between Moses and the other Israelites as regards the Revelation on Mount Sinai 8 min 35 XXXIV. Explanation of Exodus xxiii. 20 4 min 36 XXXV. The Difference between Moses and the other Prophets as regards the Miracles wrought by them 8 min 37 XXXVI. On the Mental, Physical and Moral Faculties of the Prophets 14 min 38 XXXVII. On the Divine Influence upon Man's Imaginative and Mental Faculties through the Active Intellect 6 min 39 XXXVIII. Courage and Intuition reach the highest degree of Perfection in Prophets 8 min 40 XXXIX. Moses was the fittest Prophet to Receive and Promulgate the Immutable Law, which succeeding Prophets merely Taught and Expounded 8 min 41 XL. The Test of True Prophecy 9 min 42 XLI. What is Meant by "Vision" 10 min 43 XLII. Prophets Received Direct Communication only in Dreams or Visions 10 min 44 XLIII. On the Allegories of the Prophets 10 min 45 XLIV. On the Different Modes in which Prophets Receive Divine Messages 7 min 46 XLV. The Various Classes of Prophets 26 min 47 XLVI. The Allegorical Acts of Prophets formed Parts of Prophetic Visions 12 min 48 XLVII. On the Figurative Style of the Prophetic Writings 10 min 49 XLVIII. Scripture ascribes Phenomena directly produced by Natural Causes to God as the First Cause of all things 9 min
