Papers by Daniel Loewenstein
With respect to the veracity of the theoretical underpinnings of astrology, one finds almost comp... more With respect to the veracity of the theoretical underpinnings of astrology, one finds almost complete uniformity amongst medieval Jewish philosophers. 1 There are strong differences to be found in the opinions of these philosophers as to the practicality of astrology, 2 as well as to the permissibility of relying upon astrological calculations, 3 and there seems to be a range of views as to precisely how absolute or irrevocable the fates found in the stars are. 4 Yet overall, the majority view seems to have been that there is (or is likely to be) at least some truth to the general assumptions underlying astrological science. Virtually alone in stark opposition to astrology, on all of its levels, is Maimonides. Though the faults Maimonides finds in the claims of astrological theory can be found in various places throughout the corpus of his literature, 5 he musters his main attacks in his Letter to the Sages of Marseilles. Here his main agenda is to warn against any reliance on astrology, and, not only the actual reasons he offers, but also the types of reasons, are diverse. Specifically, Maimonides claims toward the beginning of the letter that overreliance on astrology can and has led to the neglect of other, important matters, and that in fact the lack of emphasis placed on things such as conquest and warfare by the Jews of Ancient Israel, because of their reliance
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Papers by Daniel Loewenstein