tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314914268727443114.post8739461564587215042..comments2023-10-31T12:43:06.690-04:00Comments on NishmaBlog: JVO: Jewish ValuesNishmahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04237299801109329429noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314914268727443114.post-62295350149183196912012-02-24T05:40:33.772-05:002012-02-24T05:40:33.772-05:00Russel was the most confused overvalued philosophe...Russel was the most confused overvalued philosopher of the twentieth century.. he was a very good writer of dumb ideas. In fact the whole Anglo British school you ought to forget about. (apologies to Hume and Locke-but after them that whole school was really dumb.)Avraham https://www.blogger.com/profile/07822433921393627746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314914268727443114.post-9037012922382842422012-02-23T13:00:45.266-05:002012-02-23T13:00:45.266-05:00Just a brief note. One must remember that while mo...Just a brief note. One must remember that while most people think of logic when they consider reason, there is that 'jump of faith' in the acceptance of the a prioris. This is what drove someone like Bertrand Russell crazy. Where do we get this recognition of truth? This throws a further monkey wrench the whole endeavour -- one, though, that still demands undertaking.<br /><br />Rabbi Ben HechtRabbi Ben Hechthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13424122479105225620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314914268727443114.post-71271961080229311212012-02-23T04:27:34.608-05:002012-02-23T04:27:34.608-05:00i have decided that someone needs to make a chart ...i have decided that someone needs to make a chart or a graph to show the different natural law theories and where they stand in relation to each other. Or at least a simpler task of tracing the chronological order of the theories. but this also might be easies said than done because of the simple fact that people philosopher like the rambam are simply hard to figure out. i mean what is it that he means that Abraham avinu came to give natural law like the laws of the Greeks but that that natural law that he revealed could not come by reason but by revelation? what is this supposed to mean? does the rambam have a theory of revelation like the chovot levavaot that many things we call reason are in fact revelation--small prophecy? and where would you put the Rambam anyway on the chart? In legal natural law or moral natural law theories which are logically independent. and all this is very much relevant to halacha as you mentioned that the relationship of Torah to the USA constitution is a very pressing immediate issue.Avraham https://www.blogger.com/profile/07822433921393627746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314914268727443114.post-31177825402048079072012-02-22T16:16:00.430-05:002012-02-22T16:16:00.430-05:00The issue of the relationship between natural law ...The issue of the relationship between natural law and revelational law is complex and complicated yet fundamental. It is almost tragic that it is not given the attention it really demands. <br /><br />An important source on the topic include the Hakdama to Shas of Rabbeinu Nissim Gaon. Also more classical topics that clearly deal with this issue are the Eitz Hada'at Tov v'Ra and chilul Hashem in the eyes of the Gentile population. My series of shiurim presently going up on Koshertube on the topic of Freedom of Relgion also touch on this topic. <br /><br />Rabbi Ben HechtRabbi Ben Hechthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13424122479105225620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3314914268727443114.post-59756578061464999962012-02-22T06:05:46.351-05:002012-02-22T06:05:46.351-05:00natural law is a real headache. according to Maimo...natural law is a real headache. according to Maimonides we can't perceive moral values. Even the natural law of Abraham Avinu the rambam say in the Guide that Abraham Avinu said came by revelation. (Natural law is what leads to human flourishing according to this. I admit i think that human reason can perceive moral value so i find myself in this case disagreeing with the rambam. Not a comfortable position I admit) But it still is not Divine until we get to the level of Torah (Divine law). And divine law can and does contradict natural law. But still natural law is the prerequisite to get to divine law(according to Maimonides). So If we have one America candidate who believes in natural law this is clearly much better than one who believes that government determines right and wrong like the lunatic Democrats.Avraham https://www.blogger.com/profile/07822433921393627746noreply@blogger.com