Grossmann, Eliav:
Spinoza's Critique of Maimonides in the Context of dutch Hebraism

In: Jewish Studies Quarterly 27, 1 (2020), 36-52

Literature type: Articles
Language: English
Thematic areas: Philosophy of politics and law, Theology / biblical hermeneutics / philosophy of religion, Previous history (e.g. Descartes, Stoicism)
Subject (individuals): Maimonides, Moses

Autopsy: yes
English commentary: "This article looks to re-orient the discussion, arguing that Spinoza's critique of Maimonides is best understood in the context of 17th-century Dutch interest in Maimonides. Dutch political Hebraists both revered Maimonides and relied heavily on his works to construct models of governance based on the ancient Hebrew polity. For Spinoza, both Dutch political Hebraists and Maimonides incorrectly ascribe eternal philosophical relevance to the Bible. Spinoza's attack on Maimonides doubly undermines Dutch political Hebraism, both by discrediting its primary source of information about ancient Israel (Maimonides) and by condemning its methodological premises, which Spinoza identifies as Maimonidean." (Abstract)

Link to this page: http://spinoza.hab.de/detail.php?id=20312&LANG=EN