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Series:   Elements in Comparative Political Theory

Maimonides and Jewish Theocracy

The Human Hand of Divine Rule

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 November 2024

Charles H. T. Lesch
Charles H. T. Lesch
Affiliation:
Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Summary

Theocratic movements are on the rise. But what does it actually mean for God to rule? This Element offers one answer by recovering the theocratic project of medieval Judaism's most important thinker, Moses Maimonides. Theocracy is often thought to quash human agency, evoking an overpowering deity and clerical domination. Yet by reconsidering Maimonides' debt to the Islamic philosopher al-Fārābī, and challenging Leo Strauss' influential reading, the author argues that among Maimonides' aims was to elevate humanity's role in divine rule. In its highest form reason is identical with revelation, action with providence. God's governance is delegated: theocracy requires human agency-the imitation of God. Maimonides focuses on philosophical-religious leaders. But he also broadens imitatio dei to anyone whose knowledge of God inspires love of God: By emulating God's goodness, we can become agents of divine rule. In this way, Maimonides' ideas suggest ways by which theocracy and democracy might, counter-intuitively, be reconciled.
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Keywords

MaimonidesJewish political thoughtal-Farabidemocracytheocracy
Type
Element
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Series: Elements in Comparative Political Theory
Online ISBN: 9781108884051
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication: 19 December 2024

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