[Avodah] Science and Torah - redux number n (limit n -> infinity)...

[Micha Berger]

RDE on his blog just posted three entries showing the ubiquity amongst
rishonim and acharonim the idea that chazal could err in science.

http://daattorah.blogspot.com/2010/11/authority-of-scientific-statements-of.html
    R' Sherira Gaon, R' Avraham ben haRambam, Ramchal, RSRH

http://daattorah.blogspot.com/2010/11/scientific-statements-of-chazal-might.html
    REED

http://daattorah.blogspot.com/2010/11/validity-of-views-r-sherira-gaon.html
    Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Shemiras HaGuf v'HaNefesh): [Rav Shlomo
    Zalman Auerbach was asked why the view of Rav Sherira Gaon and the
    Rambam's son - that the medical and scientific knowledge of our Sages
    was that of their times - should be listed as a minority view? He
    replied:] "At the present I don't remember whether there was anyone
    who actually disagreed with their views or even whether anyone has
    the authority to disagree with them. However, rabbinic authorities
    typically explain disparities in medical and scientific understanding
    [between the views of our Sages and contemporary science] as the
    result of change in nature. They do not utilize at all the reason
    that medical knowledge has advanced from the time of our Sages. That
    is why I commented that this view should be classed as a minority
    view. Especially since concerning the laws of Shabbos, there are
    rabbinic authorities that permit violating the Shabbos [in certain
    circumstances that our Sages say are medically dangerous] despite
    the fact that contemporary doctors assert there is no danger at all.

RSZA appears to be saying that everyone holds Chazal could err in science,
but where you could blame a particular error on nishtanah hateva, that's
the more common assumption. Not to start with that assumption until ruled
out would be following a minority view. But also not that everything chazal
says that doesn't match up with current findings is nishtanah hateva --
the sun didn't used to travel a different path.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             I long to accomplish a great and noble task,
micha at aishdas.org        but it is my chief duty to accomplish small
http://www.aishdas.org   tasks as if they were great and noble.
Fax: (270) 514-1507                              - Helen Keller