tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21749731.post114667610875758734..comments2023-10-12T10:09:54.121-04:00Comments on Believing is Knowing: Astrology and Magic - Ramban and Rambam - two world views.David Guttmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07668302013143561290noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21749731.post-1147218108528291372006-05-09T19:41:00.000-04:002006-05-09T19:41:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21749731.post-1147129719974002342006-05-08T19:08:00.000-04:002006-05-08T19:08:00.000-04:00Anonymous, I am traveling right now and I have no ...Anonymous, I am traveling right now and I have no seforim here. It is an interesting question. Off the top of my head I would start with the Rishonim on Bil'am. If I don't forget I will deal with it on my return . I am sure as we get to Bolok I will be thinking about it.David Guttmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07668302013143561290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21749731.post-1147116918686821602006-05-08T15:35:00.000-04:002006-05-08T15:35:00.000-04:00I was recently looking up the Sefer Hachinuch and ...I was recently looking up the Sefer Hachinuch and he seems to hold that peoples curses can have an effect on a person aside from an emotional aspect. I know that the Rambam and other Rishonim did not believe that people have the power to curse others and that is what I believe. The difficulty is how could the Sefer Hachinuch believe that people have the power to curse. I think he says its possible to say this but my question is how can he say this with no proof? Didnt he believe he needs empirical evidence or proof that people can cause harm from their curses? He doesnt have one and there is no proof anyway because the idea that someone can cause someone else harm by cursing him is false. Do you have a possible solution to this question on the Sefer Hachinuch?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21749731.post-1146816091695274152006-05-05T04:01:00.000-04:002006-05-05T04:01:00.000-04:00The vilna Gaon lived at a time of transition. Alth...The vilna Gaon lived at a time of transition. Although it was the early ear of empirical science, astrology and magic were still considered scientific facts. Newton believed in magic and spirits. There is a book by a member of Vilna Gaon's school called sefer habris, which is a synopsis of science to his days and he seees astrology as fact and science.David Guttmannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07668302013143561290noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21749731.post-1146800141921592622006-05-04T23:35:00.000-04:002006-05-04T23:35:00.000-04:00davidgwhy do you think the Vilna goan, who i under...davidg<BR/>why do you think the Vilna goan, who i understand spent alot of time explaining away aggaditahs, yet was convinced there were demons. The mans intellect is beyond question. Was it simply faith?<BR/>Why do you think he attacked the Rambam on these issues.<BR/>why couldnt it be a machlokes, why did he need to undermine the rambam?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13441809988487585009noreply@blogger.com