Maimonides and St. Thomas Aquinas: The Lives and Works of the Middle Ages' Most Influential Religious Philosophers

“One should accept the truth from whatever source it proceeds.” (Maimonides) Moses Ben Maimon, frequently called Maimonides, was a medieval philosopher who revolutionized thinking about ethics, reason, and the Jewish Torah through his emphasis on reason and evidence. His works were broadly accepted by the Sephardi Jewish community and spread across the medieval world, reaching the Jewish populations as far as Yemen, and though he lived in the 12th century, Maimonides continues to be one of the most studied scholars of Jewish law, philosophy, and theology. Many consider him forward-thinking for his time, and his texts continue to reach numerous modern audiences through translations, commentaries, and in-depth study. Maimonides’ ideas and theological interpretations remain influential in contemporary times. His work influenced numerous Jewish and Islamic scholars, while outside of religion, his ideas were popular topics in philosophy and went on to influence thinkers like Thomas Aquinas,