Moses Maimonides Argumentation Essay

Moses Maimonides is one of the most well known jewish philosophers of the middle ages. His writings and arguments on jewish law, specifically the talmud have influenced many of his successors. His writings mostly focus on God and the topics surrounding it. In this essay I will present Maimonides discussion of God and God’s essence as one without plurality in The Guide of the Perplexed. This essay will mainly focus on the arguments Maimonides makes regarding this view. First, I will discuss the historical context of his works. Second, I will present a reconstruction of Maimonides view specifically focusing on God. Third, I will evaluate his view and make personal connections. Fourth and finally, I will conclude with a summary of the main points
This argument follows from the Aristotelian tradition that one cannot say what God is since saying so would contribute to plurality. Such that, only negative attributes can be used for an apt description of God. Maimonides states, “Negative attributes do not in any manner tell us anything about the essence of the thing which we wish to know as it is, except incidentally” (PMAA 368). Such negative attributes give to our understanding of God since no plurality can result from negative attributes. For example, its much more reasonable to argue that there is no other being like God. From this we can argue that his existence is one, without plurality. If we had argued simply that God exists there exists God which would be appositive attribute such that it would lead to multiplicity in his existence. Since we do not know God as is out of our grasp of knowledge and reason, we do not know the essence of God therefore we can assign attributes to his essence. Therefore, it is only possible to know God through negative attributes as we don’t know his
They are similar because in Sikhism God is also defined as one without plurality. The word “Ik Onkar” literally translates to “There is one God.” Maimonides would sympathize with such a claim. God in sikhism is one and there isn’t plurality to his essence. In Sikhism, there is only one true God and truth is his name. This is where Maimonides would differentiate from Sikhism. In Sikhism, God can be described in positive attributes. For example, God is eternal, formless, omnipotent, and transcendent. God is described in these terms throughout the holy book. These attributes are somewhat positive and Maimonides would disagree with them for an apt description of God. For example, both would argue that God is eternal. However, Maimonides would argue that the statement “there is no cause which called Him into being” is a better description. This description would highlight the negative attributes of God rather than the positive. This negative, according to Maimonides helps us understand the essence of God better than a positive attribute of