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As opposed to other Codifiers of Halacha (e.g. Shulchan Aruch Harav see Hilchos Talmud Torah 1:1, 2:1 and the Kuntres Acharon there) the Rambam famously doesn't provide the reasons for the Mitzvahs and Halochos in his Mishneh Torah (See also Tshuvos Harosh 31:9).

This apparently correlates with his opinion that the Mitzvah of Yedias Hatorah "...ולמדתם אותם" does not include the reasons of the halochos and just necessitates the knowledge of the final halacha (explicit in the above Kuntres Acharon and I recall but can't remember the Rambam mentioning this).

Does anyone have sources within the Rambam or from others backing this up from any Gemoro or other Rishonim or any sources discussing Rambam's opinion?

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  • Two examples that come to mind where the Rambam brings the reason behind a mitzvah is Shofar and Tumah/Tahara.
    – robev
    Oct 7, 2021 at 20:20
  • @robev I've edited it, I hope it's clearer
    – Nochie Wolf
    Oct 7, 2021 at 20:21
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    Note: I think the concept of "Yediyas HaTorah" is from the Achronim so I don't expect you to find any gemarra or rishonim explicitly discussing it. You may find support for what you're looking for though.
    – robev
    Oct 7, 2021 at 20:26
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    See Rav Asher Weiss on Yediyas HaTorah (section 6)
    – robev
    Oct 7, 2021 at 20:34
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    hakirah.org/Vol%209%20Shapiro.pdf A full essay analyzing the Rambam position on this very topic
    – Chatzkel
    Oct 7, 2021 at 21:04

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