Abstract
AbstractIn one passage of theMishneh Torah, Maimonides explicitly forbids Jews from philosophical inquiry or even freethinking. This prohibition apparently includes a ban on reading or thinking about the topics of theGuide of the Perplexed. This paper argues that Maimonides'sMishneh Torahpresents a consistent rejection of open philosophical inquiry. However, what is prohibited in theMishneh Torahis not only permitted in theGuide, but the terms of the prohibition can be used as an outline of the structure of theGuide. That is to say, theGuidein a sense covers precisely the topics whose inquiry is forbidden to Jews in theMishneh Torah. In theMishneh TorahMaimonides does not suggest a punishment in this world for freethinkers, but in theGuidehe punishes freethinkers with more study, especially metaphysical inquiry. It is possible that theGuideitself is the punishment for freethinking as defined by theMishneh Torah. This kind of intellectual punishment has a parallel in Plato'sLaws, where freethinkers are sentenced to spend five years living in the center of the city, studying physics and metaphysics with city elders.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
