One particular theme in the Guide to the Perplexed is Maimonides' theory of the attributes of Hashem via negativa. The definition of the phrase " via negativa" is to attempt to describe Hashem through what He is not and if one tries to describe God in term of what He is it will then introduce complexity of Hashem which is opposite His oneness. Those who study this theory pose some questions in order better to comprehend this lofty notion. How can one actually know Hashem via negativa? Can one discuss Hashem's unity and incorporeality without limiting His essence? Can the student differentiate between the epistemological and semantic approaches of the theory via negativa? How can the student reconcile the tradition of a moral and ethical divine being, which drives us to be moral and ethical and a divine being that cogitates about its own cognition which we cannot describe or discuss since we may not limit this entity? These are but just a few questions that are discussed in the literature concerning The Guide to the Perplexed. While exploring literature published on this theory, an effort will be made to resolve and explain some of these difficulties the reader may struggle with in The Guide to the Perplexed.
In exploring chapter 53, Maimonides presents an analogy of fire to help the student comprehend Hashem's unity. He elaborates that fire hardens, cooks, burns, bleaches and blackens(Maimonides 120), yet all these actions manifest through the characteristic of heat. Maimonides then introduces that Hashem possesses power, will, life, and knowledge which are parts of His essence.(Maimonides 121). But how can one discuss individual attributes in regard to Hashem? Will this compromise His unity? These are multiple n...
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Attributes usually attributed to God are that he is omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient. Descartes suggest that existence is one of God’s attributes. Mersenne argues against this point by stating that:
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