Elements of Mysticism in the Philosophy of Maimonides

Abstract

Maimonides is usually studied as an important rationalist in the field of religious philosophy, but the other image of Maimonides as a religious leader and a pious follower of Judaism is often neglected by Chinese scholars in this circle. This paper is a part of the effort to change the situation. It attempts to analyze the hidden logic in the world views of the medieval Arabic-Jewish philosophy Maimonides grew to accept, in order to investigate the element of mysticism in his interpretation of the Rabbinic traditions, reveal its influence on his ideas of prophecy, providence and epistemology, and then to look at how Maimonides explains the concept of Love of God (’ahav) from a mystic approach.