Jewish philosophy -- Early works to 1800; Judaism -- Works to 1900; Philosophy, Medieval -- Early works to 1800
exposing the weakness of a system which he regarded as founded not on a
sound basis of positive facts, but on mere fiction; not on the
evidences of the senses and of reason, but on the illusions of
imagination.
After having shown that the twelve fundamental propositions of the
Kalām are utterly untenable, Maimonides finds no difficulty in
demonstrating the insufficiency of the proofs advanced by the
Mutakallemim in support of the above-named dogmas. Seven arguments are
cited which the Mutakallemim employ in support of the creatio ex
nihilo. [3] The first argument is based on the atomic theory, viz.,
that the universe consists of equal atoms without inherent properties:
all variety and change observed in nature must therefore be attributed
to an external force. Three arguments are supplied by the proposition
that finite things of an infinite number cannot exist (Propos. xi.).
Three other arguments derive their support from the following
proposition (x.): Everything that can be imagined can have an actual
existence. The present order of things is only one out of the many
forms which are possible, and exist through the fiat of a determining
power.
The Unity of God is demonstrated by the Mutakallemim as follows: Two
Gods would have been unable to produce the world; one would have
impeded the work of the other. Maimonides points out that this might
have been avoided by a suitable division of labour. Another argument is
as follows: The two Beings would have one element in common, and would
differ in another; each would thus consist of two elements, and would
not be God. Maimonides might have suggested that the argument moves in
a circle, the unity of God being proved by assuming His unity. The
following argument is altogether unintelligible: Both Gods are moved to
action by will; the will, being without a substratum, could not act
simultaneously in two separate beings. The fallacy of the following
argument is clear: The existence of one God is proved; the existence of
a second God is not proved, it would be possible; and as possibility is
inapplicable to God, there does not exist a second God. The possibility
of ascertaining the existence of God is here confounded with
potentiality of existence. Again, if one God suffices, the second God
is superfluous; if one God is not sufficient, he is not perfect, and
cannot be a deity. Maimonides objects that it would not be an
imperfection in either deity to act exclusively within their respective
provinces. As in the criticism of the first argument, Maimonides seems
here to forget that the existence of separate provinces would require a
superior determining Power, and the two Beings would not properly be
called Gods.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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