Q&A: The Book “Why Does the World Exist?”
The Book “Why Does the World Exist?”
Question
Has the Rabbi read the book “Why Does the World Exist?” by Jim Holt (Shalem Press)?
What does the Rabbi think about the arguments presented there, which touch on topics related to the first book in the trilogy (though not in such a systematic way, it does present the various possibilities nicely)?
Answer
I haven’t read it.
Discussion on Answer
Here is Persico’s review of the book, whose greatness lies in the interviews with various thinkers on this question:
It hasn’t been uploaded yet. When it is, the site will be updated and there will be a link there to the video.
The book looks intriguing, but Persico reveals here a troubling lack of philosophical understanding (mainly in the link he directs to down below: https://tomerpersico.com/2008/05/30/some-evidence-for-no-being-of-god/). Most of the answers given there are nonsense, of course, and the list of thinkers and answers seems rather tedious to me. Precisely the God whom Persico dismisses with contempt is, in my view, the only possible answer. My first book is devoted to explaining this.
Thank you very much for your comments.
Is there a video of the conference at Bar-Ilan that took place yesterday about the Rabbi’s trilogy?