Good Essay About Maimonides Vs Spinoza

Maimonides was born in the Spanish town in the 12th century. He belongs to the greatest thinkers in Jewish history. His ideas had a significant impact not only on Jews, but also on representatives of other religions. Maimonides’s works laid the foundation for global development of European philosophy. Spinoza was born in Amsterdam in the 17th century. He is the most radical philosopher of his time. It was believed that Spinoza betrayed Jewish people. As a result, the Jewish establishment set up a boycott to him. In spite of the significant differences between Maimonides and Spinoza, these eminent people have much in common with each other’s ideas.
Maimonides has written More Nebuchim in 1190. He aimed to cast light upon Biblical study. In other words, the thinker intended to explain many obscure passages of Scripture through his work. The book consequently was termed as the “Guide of the Perplexed”. According to Maimonides’s concept of God, the Godhead has no human attributes. Despite the lack of the body, the First Being exists. Moreover, God has brought all other beings into existence. Therefore, those who suppose that God does not exist, throw doubt upon the existence of other things in the world. Spinoza agrees with Maimonides’s statement. He asserts God’s infinite and internal nature in his Ethica. The philosopher also claims that God has no form or body. Therefore, both Maimonides and Spinoza combat the anthropomorphic vision of God.
Although Maimonides maintains that the Torah is the word of God, Spinoza argues that the Hebrew Scripture does not contain eternal truth. Hence, Maimonides believes that this book embodies theological, metaphysical and historical truth. In addition, it prescribes laws for religious, social and political organization. Spinoza views Hebrew Scripture as a work of human literature. To his mind, the book can not be a source of truth about God. In the “Guide of the Perplexed” Maimonides shows that all commandments of the Law are reasonable. Spinoza concludes that Jewish law is invalid. Therefore, Maimonides is considered to be a great defender of Judaism while Spinoza is one of its opponents. Furthermore, Spinoza rejects Maimonides’ sincere belief that science and Scripture can not contradict each other.
Philosophers’ views on evil are alike to some extent. Spinoza believes that confused ideas and ignorance are a source of evil. In the Ethica, he mentions that bad emotions can arise from confused ideas. However, such ideas do not occur to rational people as they mark the true causes of things. Furthermore, inadequate ideas decrease the power of existing. Maimonides claims that desire for evil comes from an infirm soul.
Taken individually all differences and similarities might not be of great importance, yet taken together they demonstrate Maimonides’s impact on Spinoza and his philosophy. Both philosophers seem to have more or less unique ideas. However, Spinoza was not satisfied by the narrow limits of his own nation as opposed to Maimonides. Spinoza strives for a broad field of activity. He combines his Hebrew and Catholic ideas in his works. In other words, religious views of Spinoza underwent radical metamorphosis during his life. Therefore, in Ethica he presented views on religion that were different from believes of his nation. As a result, philosopher became the world prophet and paid a high price for own fame. Despite Spinoza’s deep religious convictions, he was called the “king of atheists “among Jews.