Q&A: The Four Elements
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
The Four Elements
Question
I wanted to ask the Rabbi two questions:
1) According to current findings, is there any basis for what is written in Maimonides and Rabbi Chaim Vital, that every body and every soul is composed of four elements?
2) Where exactly does Maimonides write that if Aristotle had strong proofs for the eternity of the world, we would reinterpret the verses at the beginning of the book of Genesis?
Answer
- The Aristotelian conception of the four elements does not speak about an actual composition out of earth, air, and fire, but rather about mixtures of qualities. A light thing contains a greater component of air and fire and only a small component of earth, etc. I don’t think they were talking about physical elements that make up matter, but it would be worth asking experts in Greek physics. But why does it matter at all? Why is it interesting whether there is any substance to these statements of Maimonides or not?
- In Guide for the Perplexed, Part II, chapter 25.
Discussion on Answer
I suggest asking them.
On that same topic, I’ll ask as well: why do people insist on clinging to Greek science, which Maimonides and the Sages incorporated parts of into their books, as if these were spiritual matters that are part of the Torah and not simply science, which keeps changing all the time?