This shiur was generously sponsored in memory of R' Moshe Chaim ben Yitzchak David.
Highlights:
Themistius' Law: Reality doesn't follow opinion; rather, correct opinions follow from reality
The universe comports with how humans think
The centrality of humans to the universe is based on the fact that humans can understand the universe
On Kabbalah and philosophy
According to Maimonides, explanatory power reflects truth, but there are also things that are inexplicable; according to Aristotle, everything is explicable
Human beings are explicators
Maimonides opposes predicating the existence of God on creation ex nihilo because creation ex nihilo is inexplicable
If we could explain everything, we wouldn't have awe of God
God is the ultimate explanation, and the human that knows Him is the ultimate human being
The Will of God is inexplicable
The awe that miracles induce is based on us considering ourselves explicators and considering explanation valid; why animals don't have awe of Heaven
Maimonides' strange description of the Chanukkah miracle
Man's sphere lends itself to explanation, and the heavens don't lend themselves to explanation
This series is a project of the Jacob Lights Foundation.