Presence

This year's ultimate edition of The Commentator has an article detailing Nobel Laureate Dr. Robert Aumann's recent visit to Yeshiva University. Dr. Aumann was awarded the Nobel Prize for his work in developing game theory, and has applied it in various halachic contexts.

A few highlights from the article:

"Science is one way of dealing with certain aspects of the world, and Torah is a way of dealing with different aspects of our world," he explained. "As observant Jews, it is not the same kind of activity as when acting as a scientist. One is an experience and the other is a way of explaining observations." Dr. Aumann admitted freely that these assertions contradict Maimonides' views on the relationship between science and Torah.

And:

Dr. Aumann discussed various games mentioned in the Torah, including Sarah's demand that Abraham ban Ishmael from their home to prevent his game-playing from influencing Isaac negatively. Dr. Aumann challenged the assertion some commentators make that Ishmael's games included idolatry, sexual rapacity, and murder, arguing that Judaism's founding father most likely would not have ignored such atrocities committed by his own son.

A RIETS rosh yeshiva mentioned in the discussion that followed that, according to the Tosefta, Rabbi Shimon ben Yokhai held similar doubts about these commentators' assertion and interpreted the games as referring to Ishmael's mocking Isaac's claims to his inheritance.

I believe this is brought down in the Ramban.

I wish YU had speakers like this when I was there; it's entirely possible that they did, and I wasn't paying attention.

Tags: science, torah, game theory, yeshiva university