Machshava Mavens
[Updated]
I recently discovered the Avodah mailing list. I am addicted to this website, which "hosts a chevrah that focuses on analysis of hashkafah, avodas Hashem, ta’amei hamitzvos, lomdus, machshavah, and halachah — with an emphasis on the places where halachah, machshavah and hargashah meet."
I have spent many hours reading the free-wheeling discussions, which have been going on since 1998. The people are quite knowledgeable and always bring sources to back up their arguments. Opinions without sources are not welcome there.
Some people on the site seem to know an awful lot about Jewish Machshava.
I OTOH have no familiarity at all with the teachings of thinkers like Rambam, Ramban, Saadia Gaon, ibn Pikuda, Kuzari, and others. They didn't teach it in the Yeshivas I attended. One would think that knowledge of classic machshava is a prerequisite to being a good Jew. After all, these writings explore Jewish views on Ultimate Truths.
So, how is one supposed to learn Jewish Machshava? As I'm unaware of frum books *about* classical Jewish machshava, it seems that the only way to get a handle on things is by going to the primary sources. Do I have to read the entire Moreh, Ramban, Abarbanel, etc. if I want to learn this stuff? How did the Machshava Mavens on Avodah get so knowledgeable? (Probably by sitting and learning.)
On the other hand, one could question whether the efforts that would go into learning these primary sources are justified. These classical thinkers were highly influenced by the surrounding Wisdom and Science of their day. The Vilna Gaon and R. SR Hirsch said this explicitly about Rambam and I'm sure one can find other sources to this effect about other Jewish thinkers like Abarbanel and Ralbag and all (many of?) the Spanish Rishonim. Of course that in itself does not make them unkosher. After all, these greats were much *more* influenced by the Torah and mesorah. However, the Wisdom and Science of today is radically different. So it seems that if these Rishonim were alive today, their views on some of these topics might be radically different too.
And maybe that's one reason they don't learn classic machshava in Yeshiva.
I recently discovered the Avodah mailing list. I am addicted to this website, which "hosts a chevrah that focuses on analysis of hashkafah, avodas Hashem, ta’amei hamitzvos, lomdus, machshavah, and halachah — with an emphasis on the places where halachah, machshavah and hargashah meet."
I have spent many hours reading the free-wheeling discussions, which have been going on since 1998. The people are quite knowledgeable and always bring sources to back up their arguments. Opinions without sources are not welcome there.
Some people on the site seem to know an awful lot about Jewish Machshava.
I OTOH have no familiarity at all with the teachings of thinkers like Rambam, Ramban, Saadia Gaon, ibn Pikuda, Kuzari, and others. They didn't teach it in the Yeshivas I attended. One would think that knowledge of classic machshava is a prerequisite to being a good Jew. After all, these writings explore Jewish views on Ultimate Truths.
So, how is one supposed to learn Jewish Machshava? As I'm unaware of frum books *about* classical Jewish machshava, it seems that the only way to get a handle on things is by going to the primary sources. Do I have to read the entire Moreh, Ramban, Abarbanel, etc. if I want to learn this stuff? How did the Machshava Mavens on Avodah get so knowledgeable? (Probably by sitting and learning.)
On the other hand, one could question whether the efforts that would go into learning these primary sources are justified. These classical thinkers were highly influenced by the surrounding Wisdom and Science of their day. The Vilna Gaon and R. SR Hirsch said this explicitly about Rambam and I'm sure one can find other sources to this effect about other Jewish thinkers like Abarbanel and Ralbag and all (many of?) the Spanish Rishonim. Of course that in itself does not make them unkosher. After all, these greats were much *more* influenced by the Torah and mesorah. However, the Wisdom and Science of today is radically different. So it seems that if these Rishonim were alive today, their views on some of these topics might be radically different too.
And maybe that's one reason they don't learn classic machshava in Yeshiva.
hey nachum. about evolution topic: do you believe in theistic evolution? thanks.
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