Ethics, or the science of self-guidance, consists, on the one hand, in acquiring for one’s self noble soul-qualities or characteristics (המדות הנכבדות), and, on the other hand, of avoiding evil qualities (המדות הפחותות). These qualities, whether good or bad, are called states or conditions (תכונות), and when acquired each is known as a property (קנין). Noble qualities are called virtues (מעלות המדות), while the vices are termed פחיתיות המדות. The virtues cause good deeds (הפעולות הטובות), the vices, bad ones (הפעולות הרע). Ethics is the science of virtues or of good deeds.[1]
B. Name, Date, Description, and Contents of the Shemonah Peraḳim
The Shemonah Peraḳim, in Maimonides’ system, come, accordingly, under the head of ethics (הנהגת האדם נפשו), which in turn is a branch of practical philosophy (הפילוסופיא המעשית). They are divided into eight chapters, from which fact the name is derived. This division undoubtedly goes back to Maimonides himself, who, in his short introduction to the Peraḳim, says “and they are eight chapters.”[2] The Arabic equivalent is Thamaniaṭ Fuṣūl, which Wolff uses as a title for his edition of the Arabic text. It seems, however, that neither of these titles originated with Maimonides, for, in Moreh, III. 35, in referring to the Peraḳim, he calls them the Preface to Abot.[3] Whether Ibn Tibbon used the title Shemonah Peraḳim, it is difficult to ascertain.[4] The simplicity of the title has fortunately been the cause of avoiding confusion as to its exact meaning, which is not the case with the title Moreh Nebukim.[5]
- ↑ Rosin, Ethik, p. 37, “Die Ethik ist also nach M. die Lehre von den Tugenden und den guten Handlungen.”
- ↑ והם שמונה פרקים. See Hebrew text, p. 7.
- ↑ פתיחת אבות: Ar. צדר אבות. See p. 3, n. 4, on the Arabic title of the Com. on the Mishneh (סראג̇), for which M. is probably also not responsible.
- ↑ In his Preface to the translation of the Commentary on Abot, I. T. refers to them as והפרקים אשר הקדים הרב וכ. See p. 22, n. 1.
- ↑ On the appropriateness of מורה נבוכים as a translation of the Arabic title Dalālat al Hāʾirīn (דלאלה̈ אלחאירין), see HUb., p. 418. Maimonides himself was of the opinion that הוראת הנבוכים would be preferable. See also Kaufmann, Attrib., p. 363, and n. 1; and especially Munk, Guide, Note sur le Titre de cet Ouvrage, at beginning of Vol. I; and II, pp. 379–380.
