Guiding the Perplexed

Guide For the Perplexed - Lecture 74: Part 2 Chapters 28 & 29a

Rambam explains the apparent references in Ecclesiastes that seem to indicate that the laws of nature are not forever. In Chapter 29 he begins his analysis of the verses in prophets that seem to discuss that the universe will not always exist.

Guide For the Perplexed - Lecture 73: Part 2 Chapters 26 & 27

In 26, Rambam explains the opinion expressed by Rabbi Eliezer which seems to suggest that the world was created out of a primordial substance. In 27 Rambam discusses whether or not, according to the Torah, the universe will last forever.

Guide For the Perplexed - Lecture 72: Part 2 Chapter 25

Rambam explains why the Torah is incompatible with Aristotle's view of the eternity of the universe, and why the Torah cannot be reinterpreted to be consistent with his views.

Guide For the Perplexed - Lecture 71: Part 2 Chapter 24

Rambam describes the confused state of astronomy in his time, as the Aristotelian model of physics simply cannot explain the motions of the stars and planets. Even Ptolemy's attempt to explain everything is inadequate. Rambam muses that some things humans may never be able to figure out.

Guide For the Perplexed - Lecture 70: Part 2 Chapters 22 and 23

Rambam describes how Aristotle's science doesn't work to explain the heavens above the sphere of the moon. Rambam emphasizes that neither his assertion that the word was created, or the assertion of Aristotle that the world is eternal could be proven. However, there are more doubts associated with Aristotle's view. Rambam describes how to choose when confronted by two conflicting viewpoints.

Guide For the Perplexed - Lecture 69: Part 2 Chapters 20b and 21

Rambam explains clearly Aristotle's opinion that everything is the way it is because it has to be, and that it has always been this way. This means that even God had to make the universe the way it is. He also explains that once you say that the world is eternal and not created, no amount of word games can change the fact that an eternal universe means it had to be this way.

Guide For the Perplexed - Lecture 68: Part 2 Chapters 19b and 20a

Rambam describes why it makes more sense to say that the complex particularization we see in the world is the way it is because a Creator made it this way for a purpose, and not because it has to be this way, as Aristotle argued.

Guide For the Perplexed - Lecture 67: Part 2 Chapter 19a

Rambam argues that postulating that there is purpose to why the universe is the way it is and a creator is a better argument than claiming, as Aristotle did, that things are this way because that's how they have to be.

Guide For the Perplexed - Lecture 66: Part 2 Chapter 18 (and small part of 19)

Rambam explains why the Aristotelian proofs using the nature of God for the eternity of the universe are not valid. We also discuss why it makes such a big difference whether the universe was created or if it is eternal.

Guide For the Perplexed - Lecture 65: Part 2 Chapter 17

Rambam explains why all of Aristotle's observations from the nature of the world that exists today cannot prove anything about the nature of anything prior to creation.