The Wars of the Lord

, by Gershom, Levi Ben; Feldman, Seymour

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ISBN: 9780827606388 | 0827606389
Cover: Hardcover
Copyright: 11/1/1999

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Supplemental Materials

Here is a comprehensive summary of Gersonides's life and work and the translation of his major work, faithful to his philosophical intentions - the third and final volume, including the index.

Acknowledgments

xiv

Introduction to Volume Three

(2)

SYNOPSIS OF BOOK FIVE

(188)

BOOK FIVE THE HEAVENLY BODIES AND THEIR MOVERS; THE RELATIONSHIPS AMONGST THESE MOVERS, AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEM AND GOD.

PART TWO: The causes of certain phenomena in the celestial domain.

An explanation of why we have embarked on this difficult investigation concerning which other thinkers have only written little.

(7)

An investigation into the nature of the body that doesn't preserve its shape that exists, as we have explained, between one heavenly body and the spheres of another body. A resolution of a certain difficulty pertaining to this hypothesis will [also] be given.

(3)

A proof that the planets and stars are in the spheres for [the benefit of] terrestrial phenomena.

(4)

A proof that there is no diurnal sphere beyond the zodiacal sphere, as have been thought by some investigators.

(5)

A demonstration that the fixed stars are all in one sphere and why the first sphere [i.e., the sphere of the fixed stars] has many bodies, whereas the lower spheres have [only] one body each.

(2)

An explanation of how the sun heats the air and of the special ways in which each of the other heavenly bodies influences [the sub-lunar domain].

(6)

A list of questions about astronomical matters that we shall discuss on the basis of the premises available to us.

(5)

An exposition of several principles, which are self-evident to the reader of this book, on the basis of which we shall be led to the explanations of these astronomical matters.

(2)

The explanations of these questions, as far as we have been able to discover.

(18)

PART THREE: The movers of the heavenly bodies, the Agent Intellect, and God.

The views of our predecessors on the producing agent of sub-lunar phenomena.

(4)

Arguments in favor of these views.

(10)

A critical analysis of these arguments to determine which of them are valid or invalid.

(28)

An investigation into this subject according to the truth of the matter.

123

(14)

A proof that there exists an agent that is the law of existent beings in their entirely in so far as they constitute a unity in it.

137

(1)

A proof that the heavenly bodies possess a separate (i.e., incorporeal) intellect that moves them via conception and desire and that they do not possess a corporeal soul, as Avicenna maintained (according to what has been reported on his views).

138

(15)

A discussion about whether the separate intellects apprehend their causes and their effects and how (they apprehend them).

153

(3)

A proof that the movers of the heavenly bodies are not (arranged as) causes and effects in the way that the earlier philosophers have maintained.

156

(8)

A proof that the movers of the heavenly bodies apprehend of the law of existent things only that which emanate from them without the mutual mixing of the light from their stars.

164

(2)

A proof that the ratio of the velocities of the heavenly bodies is (expressible by) a rational number.

166

(2)

God is not the intellect that moves the sphere of the fixed stars, as some have thought.

168

(4)

A discussion (as far as is possible for us) of the divine attributes and the relationship between God and the movers that are derived from Him.

172

(13)

What is the producing agent of sub-lunar phenomena?

185

(7)

The importance of this whole book (relative to) the other sciences.

192

(1)

SYNOPSIS OF BOOK SIX

193

(218)

BOOK SIX: CREATION OF THE WORLD

PART ONE: A philosophical examination of this question.

The difficulties pertaining to this inquiry.

217

(2)

The views of our predecessors on this topic.

219

(1)

Arguments in favor of these various views.

220

(11)

Arguments showing that the above arguments in favor of these views are not valid.

231

(5)

A discussion of which things should serve as starting points of this inquiry.

236

(3)

Features that distinguish a created object from a non-created object.

239

(4)

A demonstration showing that the heavens are created by virtue of the features exhibited by them, which features are those conditions exhibited by all created things as such.

243

(9)

A proof showing that the heavens are created by the second of these features (mentioned in CHAPTER VI).

252

(6)

A demonstration of the creation of the heavens from the third of the above-mentioned features.

258

(12)

An explanation of the nature of time and of what kind of existence it has.

270

(9)

The demonstration that time is created.

279

(20)

The demonstration that motion is created.

299

(4)

The demonstration that the inhabitable portion of the Earth has a beginning.

303

(6)

A discussion of John Philoponus' proof for creation from the impossibility of an infinite force residing in a finite body.

309

(5)

Another proof for creation that provides additional evidence for and completes our previous proofs.

314

(4)

The universe is indestructible.

318

(4)

How was the universe created?

322

(10)

A discussion of the difficulties inherent in this latter issue.

332

(13)

A proof of the unicity of the universe.

345

(6)

A resolution of Aristotle's objection (against creation) from the nature of time.

351

(7)

A discussion of Aristotle's objection (against creation) from the nature of the instant.

358

(7)

An answer to Aristotle's objection from the nature of generation.

365

(1)

A solution to Aristotle's objection from the nature of generated things.

366

(2)

An answer to Aristotle's objection from the nature of motion.

368

(13)

A resolution of Aristotle's objection (against creation) from the nature of the primary matter.

381

(1)

A discussion of Aristotle's objection from the nature of the heavens.

382

(2)

A discussion of the argument from the nature of eternity, generation, and destruction.

384

(22)

A solution of a problem that arises from Aristotle's claim that it is not possible for all things to be generated.

406

(2)

Some concluding remarks about the philosophical topics included in this treatise and a tribute to God, from Whom everything derives.

408

(3)

Colophon

410

(1)

SYNOPSIS OF BOOK SIX, PART TWO

411

(95)

PART TWO

The philosophical theory of creation and Genesis 1.

Two theological addenda: miracles and the testing of the prophet.

The thesis of absolute creation ex nihilo is not entailed by the words of the Torah and Prophets.

428

(2)

The multiple meanings in Hebrew of the phrase ``beginning of'' [reshit].

430

(2)

The various meanings of the word ``earth'' ['eretz].

432

(1)

The meaning of the phrase ``void and emptiness'' [tohu va-bohu].

433

(3)

The multiple meanings of the terms ``light'' ['or] and ``darkness'' [hoshekh].

436

(4)

The various meanings of the term ``spirit'' [ruah].

440

(1)

The meanings of the terms ``firmament'' [raqi' a], ``the lower waters'' [ha-mayyim ha-tahtonim] and ``the upper waters'' [ha-mayyim ha-'elyonim].

441

(5)

The teachings of the Torah on the topic of creation.

446

(24)

The basic principles of the concept of miracles.

470

(4)

The agent of miracles and how they are accomplished by this agent.

474

(13)

That the performance of miracles is possible by means of a wise man who is not a prophet.

487

(2)

The things with respect to which miracles are possible or impossible; how miracles can come about.

489

(9)

How the prophet can be tested.

498

(5)

The solution of various difficulties pertaining to the questions of miracles and prophecy that arise because of some stories in the prophetic books

503

(3)

Appendix: Gersonides and Astrology, By Tzvi Langermann

506

(14)

Bibliography

520

(13)

Critical Apparatus To Books Five And Six

533

(41)

Index

574

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The Wars of the Lord

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials