We find in the Gemara that R. Yohanan ben Zakai knew דבר גדול ודבר קטן מהוא דבר גדול מעשה בראשית ומעשה מרכבה ומהוא דבר קטן הוייות באביי ורבא. [Translation: "He knew great things and a small things. What are great things? The Divine Chariot of Ezekiel and the work of Creation. What are small things? The discussions of Abyee and Rava (which are a major part of the Talmud)"] So what are these מעשה בראשית ומעשה מרכבה? The Rambam says quite openly that these refer to Physics and Metaphysics as studied by the ancient Greeks. You see this same approach in the first and most important book of Musar, Obligations of the Heart [Hovot Levavot by Ibn Pakuda.]
So this same idea that you see in the parable of the king in his palace in the Guide of the Rambam.
There you have a king in his country. The closer you get to the king, the higher the level of the person is. Those in the capital city are those that keep the Law of Moses. Those around the palace are those that learn Talmud. Those inside the palace in the outer chambers are the physicists. In the inner chamber are the prophets.
So this same idea that you see in the parable of the king in his palace in the Guide of the Rambam.
There you have a king in his country. The closer you get to the king, the higher the level of the person is. Those in the capital city are those that keep the Law of Moses. Those around the palace are those that learn Talmud. Those inside the palace in the outer chambers are the physicists. In the inner chamber are the prophets.
