Maimonides on the origin of the world

Kenneth Seeskin*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Book/ReportBook

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

Although Maimonides' discussion of creation is one of his greatest contributions - he himself claims that belief in creation is second in importance only to belief in God - there is still considerable debate on what that contribution was. Kenneth Seeskin takes a close look at the problems Maimonides faced and the sources from which he drew. He argues that Maimonides meant exactly what he said: the world was created by a free act of God so that the existence of everything other than God is contingent. In religious terms, existence is a gift. In order to reach this conclusion, Seeskin examines Maimonides' view of God, miracles, the limits of human knowledge, and the claims of astronomy to be a science. Clearly written and closely argued, Maimonides on the Origin of the World takes up questions of perennial interest.

Original languageEnglish (US)
PublisherCambridge University Press
Number of pages215
ISBN (Electronic)9780511614620
ISBN (Print)052184553x, 9780521845533
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2005

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Arts and Humanities

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