The guide for the perplexed

Name: The guide for the perplexed
Author: Maimonides, Moses

Maimonides, Moses

Jewish philosophy -- Early works to 1800; Judaism -- Works to 1900; Philosophy, Medieval -- Early works to 1800

THE GUIDE FOR THE PERPLEXED

                                   BY
                            MOSES MAIMONIDES

                TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL ARABIC TEXT
                                   BY
                          M. FRIEDLÄNDER, Ph.D

                   SECOND EDITION, REVISED THROUGHOUT

                                 LONDON
                      GEORGE ROUTLEDGE & SONS LTD
                      New York: E. P. DUTTON & CO
                                  1910

PREFACE

The first Edition of the English Translation of Maimonides’ Dalalāt
al-Hairin being exhausted without having fully supplied the demand, I
prepared a second, revised edition of the Translation. In the new
edition the three volumes of the first edition have been reduced to one
volume by the elimination of the notes; besides Hebrew words and
phrases have been eliminated or transliterated. By these changes the
translator sought to produce a cheap edition in order to bring the work
of Maimonides within the reach of all students of Theology and Jewish
Literature.

M. FRIEDLÄNDER.

Jews’ College, July 1904.

PREFACE TO VOLUME ONE OF THE FIRST EDITION

In compliance with a desire repeatedly expressed by the Committee of
the Hebrew Literature Society, I have undertaken to translate
Maimonides’ Dalalāt al-Ḥairin, better known by the Hebrew title Moreh
Nebuchim, and I offer the first instalment of my labours in the present
volume. This contains—(1) A short Life of Maimonides, in which special
attention is given to his alleged apostasy. (2) An analysis of the
whole of the Moreh Nebuchim. (3) A translation of the First Part of
this work from the Arabic, with explanatory and critical notes.

Parts of the Translation have been contributed by Mr. Joseph Abrahams,
B.A., Ph.D., and Rev. H. Gollancz—the Introduction by the former, and
the first twenty-five chapters by the latter.

In conclusion I beg to tender my thanks to Rev. A. Loewy, Editor of the
Publications of the Hebrew Literature Society, for his careful revision
of my manuscript and proofs, and to Mr. A. Neubauer, M.A., for his
kindness in supplying me with such information as I required.

M. FRIEDLÄNDER.

Jews’ College, June 1881.

CONTENTS

                                                                   PAGE

    Life of Maimonides                                               xv

    Moreh Nebuchim Literature. Analysis of the Guide for the 
      Perplexed                                                   xxvii

    Part I.

    Introduction—
    Dedicatory Letter                                                 1
    The Object of the Guide                                           2
    On Similes                                                        4
    Directions for the Study of this Work                             8
    Introductory Remarks                                              9

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The guide for the perplexed

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