You will certainly not doubt the necessity of studying astronomy and physics, if you are desirous of comprehending the relation between the world and Providence as it is in reality, and not according to imagination.
Interpretation
Studying astronomy and physics is essential for understanding the true nature of the world and its connection to a higher power.
Maimonides emphasizes the importance of studying the sciences, particularly astronomy and physics, as a means to gain a deeper understanding of the universe and its relationship with divine providence. He suggests that knowledge rooted in reality, rather than imagination, is necessary for comprehending our existence and the greater forces at play in the cosmos.
In practice
In a lecture about the importance of STEM education, you might quote Maimonides to emphasize the integration of science and philosophy.
If men possessed wisdom, which stands in the same relation to the form of man as the sight to the eye, they would not cause any injury to themselves or to others; for the knowledge of truth removes hatred and quarrels, and prevents mutual injuries.
There are eight rungs in charity. The highest is when you help a man to help himself.
God who preceded all existence is a refuge.
When man possesses a good, sound body that does not overpower him nor disturb the equilibrium in him, he possesses a divine gift. In short, a good constitution facilitates the rule of the soul over the body, but it is not impossible to conquer a bad constitution by training.
If the whole earth is infinitely small in comparison with the sphere of the stars, what is man compared with all these created beings!
One should see the world, and see himself as a scale with an equal balance of good and evil. When he does one good deed the scale is tipped to the good - he and the world is saved. When he does one evil deed the scale is tipped to the bad - he and the world is destroyed.
It is the first duty of a hypothesis to be intelligible.
A time will however come (as I believe) when physiology will invade and destroy mathematical physics, as the latter has destroyed geometry.
I protest against the use of infinite magnitude ..., which is never permissible in mathematics.
Time travel was once considered scientific heresy, and I used to avoid talking about it for fear of being labelled a 'crank.'
The work on ants has profoundly affected the way I think about humans.
These slender little people (Homo Habilis), the size of modern 12 year olds, were devoid of fangs and claws and almost certainly slower on foot than the four legged animals around them. They could have succeeded in their new way of life only by relying on tools and sophisticated cooperative behavior
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.