[Avodah] Anthropic Principle

[Micha Berger via Avodah]

The more philosophical rishonim had a problm with miracles that defy
nature. I don't mean the Ralbag's extreme position, but even the Ramban
and Seforno both deal with the question of how the need for such things
do not represents flows in Hashem's initial design. Wouldn't a Perfect
Creator make a system that doesn't need the occasional tweaking?

This is what drives statements like the Ramban's that miracles were
"written in" from that beginning. IOW, that His Design is that liquids
seek the lowest point except for on 22 Nissan 2448 and again around 40
years later, etc...

(LAD, since the only difference is when the One Who is lemaalah min
hazeman is scene asmaking one decision, I don't see an real chiluq --
just how we time-bound beings model something we don't really understand.)

What is interesting about the way these rishonim relate to nature
vs miracle is that it's pretty much the reverse of a God of the
Gaps. (Invoking God only to explain away the gaps in our knowledge,
the way ou figuring out lightning as electricity caused by the rain
eliminates the need for Thor.)

Instead, Hashem is more connected to the very existence of nature. The
more we learn of science, the more we learn of His Genius. More G-dliness,
not less. The very existence of any laws of nature is itself indication
of Design, and then in addition, the actual content of those laws being
such that accomodate sentient life.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             The greatest discovery of all time is that
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