The Guide for the Perplexed

The Guide for the Perplexed to address the perplexities and conflicts that arose between the teachings of Judaism and the philosophical ideas of his time particularly those of Greek philosophy especially Aristotelianism and Neoplatonism. The intended audience for the book was Jews who were well-versed in religious teachings and scriptures but also had exposure to Greek and Islamic philosophical thought. Harmonizing Reason and Revelation: A central theme of the book is to reconcile the apparent conflicts between faith and reason. Maimonides argues that true philosophical understanding and religious faith are not mutually exclusive but can be harmonized. Allegorical Interpretation of Scripture: Maimonides employs allegorical interpretation to reconcile biblical texts that seem to present anthropomorphic descriptions of God with the concept of God as a purely spiritual and incorporeal being. God and the Universe: Maimonides discusses the nature of God and His attributes emphasizing Gods unity and transcendence. He presents the concept of negative theology where God is described in terms of what He is not as human language is inadequate to fully describe God.