Maimonides, imagination and the objectivity of prophecy

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13 Scopus citations

Abstract

In linking prophecy so closely to imagination, Maimonides is frequently understood to be undermining the objectivity of prophecy. He is critical of the literal truth of prophetic accounts, and tends to regard prophecy as a natural phenomenon, related to dreaming. Through a discussion of his use of Aristotle's concept of phantasia it can be seen that he tries to hold on to both the objectivity of prophecy and its imaginative nature. He manages to do this by stressing the objectivity of the logical relationship between the prophetic image and the point it is designed to make.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)69-80
Number of pages12
JournalReligion
Volume18
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1988

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • History
  • Sociology and Political Science

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