Sunday 1 August 2010

Cognitive Dissonance 21 -Applying Rambam to an Ashkenazic Platform A

In pronunciation, most Jews are aware that the S'phardic model and the Ashkenazic Model differ

Same for Nusach

Similarly Apple and PC users are typically aware that the opertaing systems differ.

In COBOL, the Environment Division was used to enable identical COBOL programs to port across platforms At any rate, one CAN avoid cognitive dissonance by keeping in the background of one's mind that the platforms differ.


And so when the Maharam MiRothenburg first saw the Rambam's Mishneh Torah, and "fell in love with it" - Yet he also realized it was predicated on a different platform. And so Hagahot Maimoniyyot was commisioned to help bridge the gap between the Maimonidean System and the Ashkenazic one - namely the practical differences.

[The Rema similarly applied his Hagahot to the Platform of the Shulchan Aruch]


However, when this background information is forgotten or ignored, then errors will occur. Just like running a PC-Windows program on an Apple operating system or vice- versa.

This many today, probably stemming from the Briskers, ignore this gap and create all kinds of "Environment Division" based errors by assuming a consistent underlying platform.

One may merge the algorithms from both systems as long as is AWARE of the gap. But ignoring that gap can provide erroneous results

Next posting. Part B - on methodology and Post-Talmudic Norms

Shalom
RRW

1 comment:

Mighty Garnel Ironheart said...

But you forget that PC's continue to run on DOS as their basic operating system. Windows, for all its pomp and glory, is just a giant program used to control other programs. DOS is what's working in the background which is why when things go really wrong (blue screen of death) you get the standard DOS appearance of the text on the screen.
Is the Gemara the DOS of the PC halacha?