Aristotle and Maimonides on Virtue and Natural Law Jonathan Jacobs

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    A: Tis essay examines connections between two related clusters o issues. Terst set concerns undamental matters o moral psychology and moral epistemology astreated by Aristotle and Maimonides. It explicates crucial diferences in their conceptionso sel-determination, virtue, the plasticity o character, and moral knowledge. Te sec-ond cluster o issues concerns natural law. Are there grounds or regarding Maimonidesunderstanding o Judaism as involving elements o natural law? How are we to under-stand the relationship between natural law and reasons or the commandments? Whatwould be the merits o Judaism having a natural law dimension, and how should thatdimension be characterized? I suggest respects in which Maimonidean moral thought(and Jewish moral thought more generally) indicates an approach to underwriting theobjective validity and universal applicability o moral thought without involving naturallaw elements. Tis connects the question o natural law with issues o moral psychologyand epistemology in the earlier portions o the essay.

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    k hk h S Phphy Py g G Svy, h p v h vg h g 2006. T pp p h pg h pp. k hk hSh h pp h p H 2006. T h h hv vy y y k h p.

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    Hebraic Political Studies 47

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    1 M M, Te Guide o the Perplexed, . Sh P, h -y y y L S, v. 2 hg: vy hg P, 1963,3:54, p. 638.

    2 ., p. 637.

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    3 p py h h v g x h Choosing Character: Responsibility orVirtue and Vice h: vy P, 2001. A y S Ay S-Gv, Social Philosophy & Policy 20:2 S2003, pp. 221244.

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    4 M M, gh hp, M, Ethical Writings oMaimonides, . y L. h h N Yk: N Ykvy P, 1975, h. 4, p. 70.

    5 M M, L p, M, Mishneh orah: TeBook o Knowledge, . M Hy J: Fh, 1981, h. 1:3, p. 82.

    6 ., h. 2:1, p. 82.7 ., h. 2:4, p. 83.

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    Introduction to St. Tomas Aquinas N Yk: T M Ly, 1948, p. 667.

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    11 M, L p, h. 6:5, pp. 8889.12 ., h. 5:1, p. 86.13 ., h. 5:2, p. 87.14 M, gh hp, h. 8, p. 85.15 M, Guide, 3:36, p. 540.16 M, gh hp, h. 8, p. 88.

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    17 ., p. 89.18 A, Nicomachean Ethics, . , 2 . p:

    Hk, 1999, 1128 1011.

    19 ., 1720.20 ., 2123.

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    21 T A M g h , A hvg h h M h yhg k p, q ppy phz y L K pv v.

    22 M M, L g h , M, EthicalWritings, h. 6, p. 48.

    23 .24 ., p. 46.25 ., p. 47.26 ., h. 4, p. 41.

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    27 M, L p, h. 3:1, p. 83.28 ., h. 3:5, p. 84.29 M, gh hp, h. 4, p. 73.30 A, Nicomachean Ethics, 1109 18.

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    V.

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    T h g g h h -pg G. h ph G, y

    31 M, Guide, 3:54, p. 635.32 .33 ., p. 638.

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    A h h v h v v p ,h p A M h-. h g h h g v pv M hgh. Ty hg vyhg. M pgy , pyhgy , h q h - p hg.

    34 .35 M, gh hp, h. 5, p. 75.36 .37 .

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    V.

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    h q h y h h v -vy h y p g. h g h h y v . h reatise on the Art o Logic,M y h k pp h k hp vy h gy p p, h kg h vg h g h pg

    gy . 39 A, []h h h

    38 ., h. 6, pp. 7980.39 M M, reatise on the Art o Logic, M, Ethical Writings,

    p. 156.

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    p yg h gy p, yg. 40 h h hg g gy p h v , pp-

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    k y h g k j y , h y h g M h hyh f hy . 41 Fx g h gp p-S y hv hgh . H :

    Hv, v h p-S g hv

    y y G, hgh A Nh, v h pp. p h My x h vy y h h k hgh h hy py - .42

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    40 ., p. 157.41 Mv Fx, Interpreting Maimonides hg: vy hg P,

    1990, p. 133.

    42 ., p. 132.43 ., p. 137.

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    p vg. Shg y g h h -44 h g k y . , Fx g y,

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    y p hg y . gg y h hg hvg h . h hg h hh M h p h, h q v h h p. h yg h M h pv hghgh h q py h v h hH. h h , pg M h hp h h J h-

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    y h M h . h h

    44 M, Guide, 2:33, p. 364.45 Fx, Interpreting Maimonides, p. 141.

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    g h h pp g, gg pj.Mv, M hk h y h hS , . N h hk h

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    p Aq yg, []h j -v pv x y y g pv h h h pp h h h .48

    46 S y h S: P H h Mkg MP, Hebraic Political Studies 1:3 Spg 2006, pp. 328342.

    47 v Nvk, N L, Hh, h v, N. L . N, ., Contemporary Jewish Ethics and Morality N Yk: xvy P, 1995, p. 48.

    48 Aq, S.., Q. 91, . 2.

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    h hy. hpp h ppp hh g h h gv h hp hy. N , p-y h h gv h hp, h h hv v vy vy.51

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    49 Nvk, N L, Hh, h v, p. 51. g.50 ., p. 52.51 v Nvk, Natural Law in Judaism N Yk: g vy P,

    1998, p. 123.52 ., p. 177.53 ., p. 72. g.54 ., p. 119.55 ., p. 147.

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    N g h h z h h h hv j h h . yh h g h . S vg h

    G , y h p g p h denition v h .56

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    pj p, g y y h h pp h ppv. Nvk v, h p h v. 58 h g gz h h h v h p y h vgg G. h , h y vh G h y G p y , h h y h Jhh hkg.

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    y.60

    Nvk p h hy h gy v-

    p h phy, h g h g g , py hg - h .61 T k Jh hk, h, v h h h Jh

    56 ., p. 148.57 ., p. 151.58 ., p. 186.59 ., p. 184.60 .61 ., p. 26.

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    .62 A h h p hh k vp, hh , , hh p-.63 H g h g h

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    p, p py vgp y , v, p pp.66 hv h h h g h y v hg h g , py h, pv g- reasons . 67 A T p gp h q h. Ty g hv. 68

    k hvg fy h Nvk v, Gg y, []

    g gp h g h k q p-.69 Nvk gg h pp y h h j.hzg G Gz p p Aq,

    62 ., p. 182.63 ., p. 143.64 ., p. 134.65 ., pp. 134135.66 Gg, In Deense o Natural Law x: x vy P,

    2004, p. 3.

    67 ., p. 24.68 ., p. 38.69 .

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    Gg , []h h pp p h g h h h g-.70 T h v p pph

    pp . 71 Lk Nvk, h y p-pg Sp , Gg g h yneeds , h pp h , h jyg g pp hgh h p q. T -g q. A h h ph Jh hkg py y, v Hp , Mishpatim xp Jh py v

    g h . Hukim Jh py . 72

    S h, h h h h -y h , k xv A phphy g h . v h ky p p A M. -k y hy h A ppy g hk, v hgh hphphy v y y h. h

    g p vp h h hzg, h g h h p .

    h h h h J vv v pv g hvg h. , h h xpy -y h j h y. T h vg h M . T h .

    h Guide, g h vy h xy k-

    g h v ph, M , p h h y hg h p h p hh h h h x-, h h p h v gg hhv h y g. 73 T x h h vy v

    p h h h yp h y, h h vy h

    70 ., p. 45.71 .72 v H, orah and Philosophic Quest Phph: Jh P

    Sy A, 1976, p. 147.

    73 M, Guide, 2:40, p. 382.

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    hgh h p p v h hy . T y h h L, -hgh , h .74

    v h h M p q , hgh h v h h M xp, Fx h y. v h L , h h , g h g , h hh ph . T, hk, p Nvk v. H M h h hv , v

    h. F h h h v gv. 75 A y g h h taamei hamitzvot) hpurposes, M gy p p. 76

    y h pv . T L v h vy g h hv gy .Mv, p, M g h g h

    L h y G h - v h . Hv, M k S gh h h ; h h - G h hh y h h . Mv, gz y h g hk,h f pvy p, g ph p. T gy h vy gp y k g p-

    pp y h. T ppg h y hh h L p p.

    T p y jy pgJ vvg . Nvk, , h h h h nature, h natural law, Jh hgy pv v h vg mitzvot sichliot . 77

    74 .75 Nvk, Natural Law in Judaism, p. 96.76 ., p. 97.77 ., p. 125.

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    h h hgh , Nvk -g h

    h pp h ppp hh g h h gv h -hp h y. N , py h h gv hhp, h h hv -v vy vy. Agy, h y v p, y h h p h h vh .78

    A , p h hgh h v- h py h Jh pp hgh h pppy h vy g v . T - Fx v Nvk v xp h h q h L, h Jh pp, G pv h, h h, h v h ky h L h -gy g, h h.

    V.

    h A M g h v h -g h gh q h g p, h v v vy g -. p p h ph . h h A M p h gh h gh

    h h y. H vp v- hgh pp h p . h v j, gy, , gv, j v, p p h hpg p y y g pvg xp v hp h.

    Nhg h pv g h Nvk, h v

    p. H y, p v ph g , h h v hz y

    78 ., p. 123.

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    hk p orh h .79 h v pp h ppy h h g hpp . h y,

    h k , vpg hgh, pgvy h hk vy.

    k h h p v y hh v p, hh h g h h h v h, h, pp gy, y g . N k pp g h

    g h v v h p , h hy g p v-y p g v v y h y v jg hgh h vp h v v. v h v hg kh synderesis T hy, x vp, h py gy vv. T h hg; g h g k h hg y v h,

    h h , h v.80 N h- p h, . h y p y v pp y p v h p q x .

    A pv g h p J h h h hp hg Nvk k

    79 ., pp. 189190.80 F g Aq hy , py

    j, J , J : Aq H L My,Monist, Aq 1974, pp. 86103. g h pp, hgh g pp p , vy gz hh pp hgh v -; h, hy policies p. 91. H xp h pp h v h pp , h y pp, h v hh p p g p p p. 94. A y h primary pp hh p-

    py v; h y pp, hh v hgh y g p, y vy h h h h -g p p. 94. h h h T p p y y pp, hy pp py g v h k -p g . h p, g h h M v h. .

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    p pp h h v h. A v, hy pp . Mv, h yh G -

    y. Ph y q y hNh , k h, hv h h , h ph, y h g p. g h hpp , h h y g v py yg hg gp . h h h v g xp g

    hzg, g hzg, h y p.S S, G, H, xp.A, h q g, h :

    Y h hy h hg p y : h -v g. L hvg gg y g ph; h h y h h h h h h p.86

    v h v, h , h p y hv y. T p, M v, , hp xp hy h h hG h p h Nh becausehy G h g G h .

    h g h , v Jh h,y h ph hv . T y jg h T h k h qv h pp g. 87 h x hg g, k h p h T h k y h pgy v h jg- hh y . My v h hp logical h hp , , p.T p h p h

    h , h h h kg g h y h h g . h p h T h

    86 ., p. 17.87 ., p. 20.

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    ky q so sure h h k vy k , h p g hgh. A gh y h h y h h

    y h h hh - h p. 88

    M , M v, h v. h :

    M pp y h y - h g vy , , kh pg y. y h p, h -

    . T h gy p, h gz h,pgy, v g q hhechra hadaat y .89 [Hechrahadaat y h , v - h .]

    A v, v, h y M h -, , hgh y , h pv, y g .

    ypy, hy xp vy hhgh p h pp gh p h g hgh pp h y y gh pp g y v p , v h vv telos h . vy , , -, h y h h. F , Aq p - hgh g hpgy

    g p y, h Gg hgh h y v g g. M hpgy -g y h vv gg p.gy . y p y vy - h h y. vy hgh jvy. T , hvg jv , h , h hv v ppy.

    h v h v y gy, h g p hh h p

    88 ., p. 21.89 ., p. 20.

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    ppy h hh pp gh h h h telos; - v, g; h K,

    , ppyg y hgha priori pp gh . hgh h y h p v, - jv, v. p v v h h y A p , hh -jv g hgh gp v pp.T y h g pp gh , hy hgh p x

    h vkg h hgh hgh, jg-, xp, h h g p h h. Ah p v h M p hL h pgy. T p h p h, y, h h y, g, , x-p h L. T .

    h , jg g h h jvy hgh h h -

    pp h hp h jg. N h apriori jg, hgh h ph y . h , h pj -g h v .

    T h p h h .M A g h gy p- h hgh h . p p vpg v pp

    hgh g g , jg, y h h h. h g why h h y h vpg h h vp h. F h h gg h , h pv g h , hy v y h . hp hh g h h g h -. F h h q v, hjv h vpg p -

    g h hy v, v gy h p.

    A g vp h v , pp,y, jg h g h p h h g h h

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    h g. T p x h jvy vy h . phy . h g

    g h y y h yp . Y h vg ppy h g , , g h y p -, . h h py ghp g k h h pp pp, h, y.T p g

    h ph h.T h p y h v hh p A h. y hg. T p A jg h yh pp v gz h ph h v y , h h , . FA, h jg p vy.P h k hgh g -ph jv h h hgh gp

    v pp. T h pp, h p- gz g v. h py A h h kg jg. Tgy h h gy h g q p h A p.v h gy eudaimonism A v py ppp h . h k g, h pp h , v, -

    gg pp px. hzg, h h hzg h py A jvy, h v, h, h qy - xp yhg h q natural law.Mv, h v h H h v- y hy. F hg, h y hy k y v, hy with G rom G. T v-

    S q gy pz pp,hgh g h v, h pp q v g h v h p.

    M A h g ph p - h , . Ty

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    pgy, hy h p h p. hy p h h h. T y hh x-p h gvg

    h L h H h q h v g M h hgh qy g jv vy v jg, hgh hy jv v y .

    onclusion

    p h h q hh J

    hh M hk , h h h k g, v Jh h hgh. A p xp - h q x y. hkh y h J , q hvg v h g. T p, y, h y p p h, hgh h h vg. q h v h

    v hgh gpg pp kg h g.T q y gv y y p. v hghy p y, h vy pp h pp gh . T, v, g h h h h g h hy gh, g ph h v .

    M h g v hg h h v

    p y h q -p vp g k vp g h vy pp. T vp -vv , , g y gy,h g hyph , xp, h. Jy, h p vp h g -y h h vp h p h xv y. hz x h g. Php h y p h p y h h

    hy p J k h v x h g. h p, h M -g y h g g h.

    F M, pg h p p hpj pg h . T pj h g

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    v h h p; h p h gh pv- j. [S]h h Jg h h jy?G 18:25. h g, h J p,

    p, hgh h g p v- v.

    T ky Ah p j zhp A A p - pyhgy h . p, h h vy h v h hy q, h v vy - , h gg.

    T ky J h p h p M h Jh h h h g g. T h vp h h y hh hghy pz v, v y xp p h p, h h h ; h p h g p human being, j x J. T kg v G h h vy -z j h h hpp hv

    hg. T p p y p z.

    g vy

    Hebraic Political Studies 77