Terminology for Translating the Treatise on Logic

The Treatise on Logic usually attributed to Maimonides became a text of major importance. There are three known translations, all of which were published eighty years ago by Israel Efros, but the most widespread is the earliest, by Moses ibn Tibbon. In order to ask what motivated the subsequent two translators, Aḥitub and Bibash, this paper will investigate the differences between the three translations. Using examples from throughout the treatise, but focusing particularly on those dealing with propositions and syllogistic, it will seek to discover whether there is any critique implied towards ibn Tibbon’s understanding and his general methods of translation. It will also attempt to situate the newer translations in the development of Hebrew logical terminology, in order to determine whether they are part of wider trends in the evolution of philosophical terminology. If a particular stream of terminological development in the logical translations can be detected, the relationship with some later commentaries, which were based almost exclusively on ibn Tibbon’s translation, will be examined. The paper will attempt to draw conclusions about the standardization of Hebrew logical terminology in medieval thought.