Introduction

THE GUIDE FOR THE PERPLEXED, SECOND EDITION

“My dear pupil, ever since you resolved to come to me, from a distant

country, and to study under my direction, I thought highly of your

thirst for knowledge, and your fondness for speculative pursuits, which

found expression in your poems. I refer to the time when I received

your writings in prose and verse from Alexandria. I was then not yet

able to test your powers of apprehension, and I thought that your

desire might possibly exceed your capacity. But when you had gone with

me through a course of astronomy, after having completed the [other]

elementary studies which are indispensable for the understanding of

that science, I was still more gratified by the acuteness and the

quickness of your apprehension. Observing your great fondness for

mathematics, I let you study them more deeply, for I felt sure of your

ultimate success. Afterwards, when I took you through a course of

logic, I found that my great expectations of you were confirmed, and I

considered you fit to receive from me an exposition of the esoteric

ideas contained in the prophetic books, that you might understand them

as they are understood by men of culture. When I commenced by way of

hints, I noticed that you desired additional explanation, urging me to

expound some metaphysical problems; to teach you the system of the

Mutakallemim; to tell you whether their arguments were based on logical

proof; and if not, what their method was. I perceived that you had

acquired some knowledge in those matters from others, and that you were

perplexed and bewildered; yet you sought to find out a solution to your

difficulty. I urged you to desist from this pursuit, and enjoined you

to continue your studies systematically; for my object was that the

truth should present itself in connected order, and that you should not

hit upon it by mere chance. Whilst you studied with me I never refused

to explain difficult verses in the Bible or passages in rabbinical

literature which we happened to meet. When, by the will of God, we

parted, and you went your way, our discussions aroused in me a

resolution which had long been dormant. Your absence has prompted me to

compose this treatise for you and for those who are like you, however

few they may be. I have divided it into chapters, each of which shall

be sent to you as soon as it is completed. Farewell!”