[Avodah] The Cult of Pe'or and Darwinism

[Micha Berger]

On Wed, Jun 30, 2010 at 06:15:44AM -0400, Prof. Levine wrote:
> At 06:16 AM 6/30/2010, Yitzchok Schaffer wrote:
>> ... which is why we need a different type of Darwinism, that which does
>> not limit its world to the material, and sees man as a higher species of
>> animal *plus* a Divine soul.

> Two questions come to mind.

> 1. Why do we need any type of Darwinism?

The halachic process can be seen as Darwinian. Many sitos exist, the
fittest for survival is the one that is nispasheit to the community and
thus survives.

But I think RAYK also holds our spiritual progress over time is Darwinian,
or at least evolutionary in a more general sense. And thus he felt that
the science of evolution confirmed the basic thrust of the Torah. To him,
it was one spiritual process, and one can't separate the origin of the
species from the path of religious history. The following translation
from Orot haQodesh 2:537 can be found on numerous web pages:
    The theory of evolution (hitpattehut) is increasingly conquering
    the world at this time, and, more so than all other philosophical
    theories, conforms to the kabbalistic secrets of the world. Evolution,
    which proceeds on a path of ascendancy, provides an optimistic
    foundation for the world. How is it possible to despair at a time
    when we see that everything evolves and ascends? When we penetrate
    the inner meaning of ascending evolution, we find in it the divine
    element shining with absolute brilliance. It is precisely the Ein
    Sof in actu which manages to bring to realization that which is Ein
    Sof in potentia.

> 2. Would this "different type of Darwinism" be science? After all,  
> science is interested in explaining how things occur, not the underlying 
> why....

I never understood why "is it science?" was such an important question.
In practice, it pushes scientists to rule out a hypothesis without
consideration for reasons other than "is it truth?"

It's like the famous mashal of the drunk who drops a quarter in the
middle of the block, but looks for it on the street corner because
that's where the streetlight is and it's easier to look there. Yes,
the scientific method works quite well, but only works in the domain of
science -- repeatable empirical events (or an event that left mutiple
effects that each can be used to confirm eachother). By insisting that
the answer be scientific, one is ruling out the rest ofthe block for
one's search based on one's tools of reason, not where the truth may lie.

In this case, such a Darwinism as the one RYSchaffer describes would be
more likely to be emes because it accomodates both science and Torah.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             One who kills his inclination is as though he
micha at aishdas.org        brought an offering. But to bring an offering,
http://www.aishdas.org   you must know where to slaughter and what
Fax: (270) 514-1507      parts to offer.        - R' Simcha Zissel Ziv