On Divine Providence or Universal Nature or Naturing Nature

Rabbi David Nieto published De La Divina Providencia o Naturaleza Universal to clarify that the vulgar term "Nature" has replaced the classic word "Providence" since its adoption during modern times to describe nature in general. He argues that "With the passing of time, this name gained daily credit and began to take form in the minds of men as a simulacrum or idol causing serious damage to the understanding and consciousness." Hence, Spinoza was famously excommunicated after referring to an "eternal or infinite entity that we call God or Nature" (i.e., Deus sive Natura, Ethics, IV, Preface, 1677), whereas David Nieto was acquitted for saying, "God, and Nature, Nature, and God, is all one." This raises the question of why Spinoza faced condemnation while R. David Nieto received praise in what could be seen as the most significant exoneration in history. This question is explored in in an extended conversation between a rabbi and a member of his synagogue, Reuben and Simon. The rabbi insists that the nature defined by materialists does not exist, positing instead that everything exists as a manifestation of Divine Providence, which means that everything is, in a sense, God. The synagogue member counters that this perspective amounts to a form of polytheism. They examine the corpus of Hebrew Scriptures, noting that the word "Nature" does not appear even once in the Scriptures, not even during the Early Middle Ages.

David Nieto (Venice, 1654 - London, 1728) was the Haham of the Spanish and Portuguese Jewish Community in London. He was one of the most accomplished Jews of his time and was equally distinguished as philosopher, physician, exegete, poet, mathematician, astronomer, and theologian. Rabbi Nieto published in 1704, On Divine Providence or Universal Nature; The Triumphs of Poetry in 1709. He died in London and is buried in the Old Jewish Cemetery in Mile End Road. An inscription on his grave reads: Sublime theologian, profound sage, a distinguished physician, a sweet poet, a famous astronomer, elegant preacher, subtle logician, ingenious physician, fluent rhetorician, pleasant author, an expert in languages, learned in history.