Eternal time, eternal secret: the thesis of the eternity of time in Maimonides' guide of the perplexed

Résumé 0

In an excellent article that traces the logical structure of Maimonides' Guide of the perplexed and his arguments on the existence of God, William Lane Craig (1988 122-147), concludes that most of the Guide's impact rests precisely on its rigorous method of deduction. Perhaps, in Craig's view, this is one of the things that makes Maimonides a model for further conciliating attempts between theology and philosophy. However, despite his careful analysis, there is one idea that Craig mentions and leaves undeveloped, namely, that a certain notion of eternity of time underlies Maimonides' argumentative scheme. Trying to go beyond the examples Craig offered in his article, my method toward a final solution to the question is divided in three steps. The first one is a reconstruction of Craig's statements and its interpretation as supporting material for his conclusion. Then, I present three alternative views about Maimonides' beliefs on the creation of the world, an issue strongly attached to his idea of time. Finally, I use the material of the two former sections to support an answer to my question.