Gersonides’ Naturalistic Account of Providence in Light of the Book of Animals

Divine province is one of the central themes considered by medieval Jewish philosophers. Gersonides (1288–1344) wrote extensively on this subject in the Wars of the Lord and his biblical commentaries. Throughout these works we find evidence of Gersonides’ acquaintance with Aristotelian natural philosophy. One motif recurs in Gersonides’ account of divine providence, which originates from Aristotle’s zoological treatises, known in the Middle Ages as the Book of Animals. This principal idea is that natural kinds are ranked on a hierarchical scale (scala naturae). Aristotle and his commentators were of the opinion that ascending levels of beings differ essentially in their physical configuration. Gersonides adapts this notion to his religious discussions and sees divine providence as hierarchical and following the scala naturae. This providence, according to Gersonides, is responsible not only for various degrees of biological perfection, but also includes other elements traditionally ascribed to divine providence. Examining Gersonides’ explicit references to a prevalent Aristotelian concept reveals his unique understanding of divine providence, as well as his unique method of combining scientific theories with theological views.