NEW COURSE
HEBREW 165 – Philosophy and Law: Readings in Maimonides’ Mishneh Torah
Semester: Fall
Offered: 2022
Instructor: Shaye Cohen
Meeting Time: Th 9:45am-11:45am
The Mishneh Torah is arguably the greatest legal, religious, and philosophical code produced in the medieval period of Jewish history. The magnum opus of Maimonides, the most important Jewish jurist and thinker of his era, this work has been enormously impactful upon the development of Judaism from its publication in the twelfth century until today. This course will focus on reading the philosophical and ethical elements of this code. These readings will explore the great theological, psychological, ideological, moral, and political issues addressed in this code. We will occasionally read the opinions of some of Maimonides’ critics and interlocutors, and will survey some of the contemporary scholarship on Maimonides. The texts will be read in Hebrew, accompanied by a simultaneous English translation. All are welcome, no prior knowledge or experience necessary.
Recommended Prep: A good reading knowledge of Hebrew.
For more details please visit the Harvard Course Catalog.