In fact, the scientific truth imposes itself upon the investigator if he wants to achieve any theoretical or practical result. Intentional deceit or falsification is usually detected because the scientist’s work is open to the critical scrutiny of his colleagues. Although continuation of the scientific activity may reveal in the future a somewhat different picture of reality, #BGJ398 randurls[1|1|,|CHEM1|]# adherence to the scientific method is the only option that will allow us to rectify with time our mistaken scientific Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical concepts. In absolute contrast to the scientist in me, I am, at least to a certain degree, acting as a
free agent when it comes to the practice of Judaism. To my knowledge, the choice to put on phylacteries this morning had practically nothing to do with whether I have irrefutable evidence to the existence of God, the creation of the world, or whether the
biology Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical I am studying the rest of the day enforces or denies my religious convictions. While the position for which I argued here is that science and the Torah are incommensurable, Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical there is one aspect in which Torah scholars and scientists are exactly in the same situation. Rabbi Naftali Zvi Yehuda Berlin (1813–1893), the Naziv in his introduction to his Ha’amek Davar, explains why he felt the need to write a new commentary on the Torah (my own translation): “just as it is impossible for a scientist to feel falsely assured that he has discovered all the secrets of nature … and not just that, but that he has no certain proof that what he Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical has discovered in his research is correct, [because] a colleague or someone in a future generation may come and contradict his scholarly construction, so it is not possible for the person engaged in scholarly Torah study to be certain about his interpretation and to confirm all the advances he has tried to make and investigated, and to claim that he has confirmed them all. Furthermore, there is never proof that his explanation reflects the true meaning of the Torah. Nevertheless, Inhibitors,research,lifescience,medical it behooves
us to attempt to do all that we have the ability to do.” It seems that the Naziv holds that Torah scholars and natural scientists share a common stance, namely there is no certainty in the outcome of their respective undertakings. This enough humbling realization of the nature of human pursuit (be it the most noble and worthy), should not be considered an impediment, but rather a liberating idea that should energize the respective scholar to work even harder so that he will flourish in his endeavor. CONCLUSION There is no unique Jewish perspective on evolution, as there should not be a singular Jewish position on any other theoretical scientific issue. As a reflection of their wide interests beyond Halakha, and as intellectually curious and educated members of their respective societies, rabbis, throughout history, maintained diverse opinions on scientific matters deeply rooted in their times and environment.