Since the thread is about hashgacha elyona, maybe I can get away with hijacking it with the following question:
We see some opinions that the world is governed by hashgacha klalis in the gemara, and then the geonim. AFAIK the last rishon to mention hashgacha klalis is RaMBaM in hilchos teshuva. In our own time hashgacha pratis is accepted by almost all Orthodox Jews and anyone who believes otherwise is seen as lacking emuna.
How did the shift occur? Was someone oker the shita thorugh svara? If so, where?
Was it simply a matter of majority “holding of” hashgacha pratis? If so, who was involved in the machlokes?
Was it something along the lines of chicken with milk in the city of R’ Yosi?
If anyone knows, I’m very curious. As an aside, the concept of hashgacha klalis removes many of the questions about bechira.