Page:Eight chapters of Maimonides on ethics.djvu/23

Rh that his main object was to harmonize Jewish traditional belief with the current Aristotelian philosophy. For this work Maimonides was admirably equipped; his ability as a systematizer was most remarkable, and not only had he a profound knowledge of Jewish law and lore, but was so deep a student of philosophy and the sciences that his works have since exercised considerable influence even outside the domains of Judaism. His chapters, for instance, in the Moreh on the Mutakallimun have become the main source for the history and knowledge of the Kalām.

The most important of his works which have had a profound influence upon Judaism are his Commentary on the Mishnah, the Mishneh Torah or Yad ha-Ḥazaḳah , and the Guide for the Perplexed.

The Commentary on the Mishnah, Maimonides’ first work of importance, written in Arabic, was begun at the age of