Q&A: Prophecy and Providence in the Guide for the Perplexed
Prophecy and Providence in the Guide for the Perplexed
Question
Rabbi, do you agree with Maimonides’ view regarding prophecy and providence (following Aristotle)?
That is, for Maimonides, because of God’s perfection, he explains prophecy not as God’s revelation to a human being, but rather as a human being uncovering God within his own consciousness through moral virtues and the mental and intellectual perfection that he attains.
Likewise, he explains providence to mean that God does not distinguish between the righteous and the wicked, but between the wise and the foolish. And in fact it is not God who distinguishes at all; rather, through intellect a person is saved, as he explained regarding prophecy. For in his view, traditional providence is a theological absurdity.
(By the way, are you familiar with Dr. Micah Goodman’s book The Secrets of the Guide for the Perplexed?)
Answer
I’m not especially interested in these bizarre questions and word games. In any case, nobody can really know anything about these matters. I haven’t read it (as I said, I’m not interested).
Discussion on Answer
What foundations of mine? What are you talking about? Is this discussion going anywhere? I speak about what I have a position on, and I don’t speak about what I don’t. That’s all.
Do you mean
that it’s possible that the straightforward traditional view of prophecy is correct — that the Creator really does reveal Himself to human beings, and that He also exercises providence and saves?
And it’s possible that Maimonides’ view is correct — that God is detached from the world, and prophecy and providence are as he explained in the Guide for the Perplexed?
Nobody knows anything either way about topics like these, and that’s why you’re not interested.
But after all, even in your 3 foundations — the creation of the world, the existence of God, and life after death — nobody knows anything, and nevertheless you do discuss them and express an opinion.
What’s the difference?