Q&A: The Golden Age and the Enlightenment Period
The Golden Age and the Enlightenment Period
Question
Hello to our holy Rabbi, may he live long and well. If the Rabbi is discussing the analysis of historical processes, I would be glad to understand why during the Golden Age culture, philosophy, and science were integrated with Torah, and a significant portion of the medieval authorities (Rishonim) were also proficient in those areas, whereas during the Enlightenment period those same fields were perceived as being in conflict with Torah.
Was it the fault of the Ashkenazi rabbis, who were occupied mainly with fighting everything that departed from the dry mainstream rather than understanding its actual reality? After all, that is how they behaved toward Hasidism, the Enlightenment, Zionism, and today the internet. Or is the blame on rationalist-atheistic thought for creating a new philosophical and scientific movement that would liberate us from the Church?
Answer
As far as I understand, both answers are correct, and perhaps they also influenced one another. Ancient science assumed premises of faith, and therefore religious thought did not see it as a problem. Aristotle on the eternity of the world was relatively exceptional. Modern science attached itself to facts and observation rather than metaphysical first assumptions, and therefore a conflict arose. As a result, a defensive withdrawal developed among the Ashkenazi rabbinic leadership, and also in Christianity, and that in turn sharpened the scientific rebellion against religious dogmas, and so on in a repeating cycle.
Discussion on Answer
And why is that?
Josephus, what is exceptional is the Golden Age, and that is what you need to find an explanation for, not the other way around.