This evening (12/9/21), in our Thursday night hashkafah shiur (which is usually not recorded), we began a multi-part series on the Rambam's shitah about hashgachah, as presented in the Moreh ha'Nevuchim Chelek 3. I have recently come to the realization that I'm due to reexamine the Rambam's view of hashgachah - mostly due to the evolution of my own views of hashgachah, which are a result of my learning and teaching of Tehillim and Tefilah over the past 15 months.
I know of no better presentation of the pertinent sources than David Guttman's essay "Divine Providence - Goals, Hopes, and Fears, כי כל דרכיו משפט." I would go so far as to say that this essay reads like it was written with ruach ha'kodesh. Even though it is mostly a presentation of direct citations from the Rambam, Guttman's arrangement of the material, his explanation of the premises, and his analysis of the implications are masterful. Every time I read it (which I try to do every few years), I achieve a new depth of understanding of the Rambam's view.
The plan is to read and discuss the essay together and follow whatever questions and problems arise. Tonight we made it through the summary of the first two out of the five views of hashgachah: that of the Atomists and of Aristotle.
מקורות:
David Guttman', "Divine Providence - Goals, Hopes, and Fears, כי כל דרכיו משפט":
Aristotle, Nichomachean Ethics 1:7
חגיגה ב:א
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