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Guide for the Perplexed, Part 2

Public domain audiobook

Guide for the Perplexed, Part 2

by Moses Maimonides

English· 08:47:26· 49 chapters
In the Guide of the Perplexed Maimonides (Moses ben Maimon) achieved an original and highly influential synthesis of religious and secular learning, drawing on Rabbinical teachings, the Aristotelian and neo-Platonic doctrines then current in the Islamic world, as well as his own scriptural exegeses and philosophical arguments. According to Encyclopaedia Judaica, "almost every philosophic work for the remainder of the Middle Ages cited, commented on, or criticized Maimonides' views." - Summary by Kazbek

LibriVox recordings are public domain in the United States; copyright status may differ elsewhere.

Chapters

  1. Chapter 1

    The Author's Introduction. The Twenty-Six Propositions employed by the Philosophers to prove the Existence of God

    18:35
  2. Chapter 2

    I. Philosophical proofs for the Existence, Incorporeality, and Unity of the First Cause

    25:30
  3. Chapter 3

    II. On the Existence of Intelligences or purely Spiritual Beings

    06:58
  4. Chapter 4

    Ill. The Author adopts the Theory of Aristotle as least open to Objections

    01:30
  5. Chapter 5

    IV. The Spheres and the Causes of their Motion

    11:51
  6. Chapter 6

    V. Agreement of the Aristotelian Theory with the Teaching of Scripture

    04:44
  7. Chapter 7

    VI. What is meant by the Scriptural Term "Angels"

    10:24
  8. Chapter 8

    VII. The Homonymity of the term "Angel"

    02:19
  9. Chapter 9

    VIII. On the Music of the Spheres

    02:18
  10. Chapter 10

    IX. On the Number of the Heavenly Spheres

    03:34
  11. Chapter 11

    X. The Influence of the Spheres upon the Earth manifests itself in four different ways

    12:24
  12. Chapter 12

    XI. The Theory of Eccentricity Preferable to that of Epicycles

    09:58
  13. Chapter 13

    XII. On the Nature of the Divine Influence and that of the Spheres

    11:29
  14. Chapter 14

    XIII. Three Different Theories about the Beginning of the Universe

    14:34
  15. Chapter 15

    XIV. Seven Methods by which the Philosophers sought to prove the Eternity of the Universe

    11:28
  16. Chapter 16

    XV. Aristotle does not scientifically demonstrate his Theory

    07:18
  17. Chapter 17

    XVI. The Author refutes all Objections to Creatio ex nihilo

    02:57
  18. Chapter 18

    XVII. The Laws of Nature apply to Things Created, but do not regulate the Creative Act which produces them

    14:09
  19. Chapter 19

    XVIII. Examinations of the Proofs of Philosophers for the Eternity of the Universe

    14:20
  20. Chapter 20

    XIX. Design in Nature

    26:36
  21. Chapter 21

    XX. The Opinion of Aristotle as regards Design in Nature

    08:12
  22. Chapter 22

    XXI. Explanation of the Aristotelian Theory that the Universe is the necessary Result of the First Cause

    09:13
  23. Chapter 23

    XXII. Objections to the Theory of the Eternity of the Universe

    13:35
  24. Chapter 24

    XXIII. The Theory of Creatio ex nihilo is preferable to that of the Eternity of the Universe

    05:49
  25. Chapter 25

    XXIV. Difficulty of Comprehending the Nature and the Motion of the Spheres according to the Theory of Aristotle

    15:44
  26. Chapter 26

    XXV. The Theory of Creation is adopted because of its own Superiority, the Proofs based on Scripture being Inconclusive

    07:35
  27. Chapter 27

    XXVI. Examination of a passage from Pirke di-Rabbi Eliezer in reference to Creation

    05:36
  28. Chapter 28

    XXVII. The Theory of a Future Destruction of the Universe is not part of the Religious Belief taught in the Bible

    04:17
  29. Chapter 29

    XXVIII. Scriptural Teaching is in favour of the Indestructibility of the Universe

    07:33
  30. Chapter 30

    XXIX. Explanation of Scriptural Phrases implying the Destruction of Heaven and Earth

    32:43
  31. Chapter 31

    XXX. Philosophical Interpretation of Genesis i.-iv.

    30:55
  32. Chapter 32

    XXXI. The Institution of the Sabbath serves (1) to Teach the Theory of Creation, and (2) to promote Man's Welfare

    04:03
  33. Chapter 33

    XXXII. Three Theories concerning Prophecy

    10:36
  34. Chapter 34

    XXXIII. The Difference between Moses and the other Israelites as regards the Revelation on Mount Sinai

    07:45
  35. Chapter 35

    XXXIV. Explanation of Exodus xxiii. 20

    04:03
  36. Chapter 36

    XXXV. The Difference between Moses and the other Prophets as regards the Miracles wrought by them

    08:02
  37. Chapter 37

    XXXVI. On the Mental, Physical and Moral Faculties of the Prophets

    14:08
  38. Chapter 38

    XXXVII. On the Divine Influence upon Man's Imaginative and Mental Faculties through the Active Intellect

    06:24
  39. Chapter 39

    XXXVIII. Courage and Intuition reach the highest degree of Perfection in Prophets

    08:09
  40. Chapter 40

    XXXIX. Moses was the fittest Prophet to Receive and Promulgate the Immutable Law, which succeeding Prophets merely Taught and Expounded

    08:25
  41. Chapter 41

    XL. The Test of True Prophecy

    08:57
  42. Chapter 42

    XLI. What is Meant by "Vision"

    09:59
  43. Chapter 43

    XLII. Prophets Received Direct Communication only in Dreams or Visions

    09:36
  44. Chapter 44

    XLIII. On the Allegories of the Prophets

    09:57
  45. Chapter 45

    XLIV. On the Different Modes in which Prophets Receive Divine Messages

    06:40
  46. Chapter 46

    XLV. The Various Classes of Prophets

    25:32
  47. Chapter 47

    XLVI. The Allegorical Acts of Prophets formed Parts of Prophetic Visions

    11:56
  48. Chapter 48

    XLVII. On the Figurative Style of the Prophetic Writings

    09:46
  49. Chapter 49

    XLVIII. Scripture ascribes Phenomena directly produced by Natural Causes to God as the First Cause of all things

    09:20