Defining "Jewish Philosophy"

Hi,

My apologies for my absence these past few days; it was due to illness.

"Any interpretation, from whatever foreign source it may originate, that acknowledges Gd, Israel and the Torah as historic realities, and attempts to provide the metaphysical or theological corollary to the facts and events for which they stand, may well be incorporated in a Jewish philosophy. On the other hand, any interpretation that attempts to substitute the idea, the metaphysics, and the philosophy for the historic reality, cannot be called Jewish."

(Rabbi Eliezer Berkovits, What is Jewish Philosophy?, pp. 121-122)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

One view on Philosophy

Hi,

"The essential goal and completeness is in serving Gd in total simplicity, without any wisdoms at all. For there are investigators who say that the essential goal [of existence], and Olam haBa, are in knowing a thing's nature, such as knowing a star – its essence, and why it occupies its location… And they waste their days in this world on this subject, investigating and grasping ideas which are, to them, the goal. This is Olam haBa, in their view; in this world they are clothed in a body and so they do not experience such great pleasure from their investigations, but in Olam haBa, when they are freed of the body, then they will experience great pleasure from it. 

"Within their poor understanding, the essential achievement of the goal is via their investigations and external wisdoms. But in truth, for us, the essential achievement of the goal is only via belief and practical mitzvot, serving Gd according to the Torah in simplicity… Know that it is not as they think, Gd forbid, for then very few people – intellecual elites, philosophers - could achieve the goal! What should those of lesser value, who lack this intellect, do?... This is the meaning of, 'At the end of the matter, all has been heard. Revere Gd, and guard His mitzvot, for this is the entirety of a person.'

"In truth, investigation, Gd forbid, and learning the books of wisdoms, Gd forbid, is strongly prohibited. Only an extremely great tzadik can introduce himself to this study of the seven wisdoms, for who enters these wisdoms, Gd forbid, could fall there…"

(In the name of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, Likutei Moharan Tinyana, Torah 19)

Have a good day,

Mordechai

The symbolism of White

Hi,

"Rabbeinu Saadya Gaon wrote that since the first Greek king was Alexander of Macedonia - who was a philosophical scholar, and wisdom is white and pure - therefore Zecharyah's vision portrayed his reign with white [horses]."

(Radak to Zecharyah 6:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

What caused the delinquency of a sage?

Hi,

"What happened with Acher [to lead him to abandon Torah]? Greek song did not leave his mouth. They say that when he stood from the study hall, many books of heretics fell from his lap."

(Talmud, Chagigah 15b)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The divergent paths of Torah and secular philosophy?

Hi,

Here's one to chew on:

"The wisdom of philosophy and the wisdom of Torah and its laws do not follow the same path. The wisdom of Torah is a tradition received by Moshe from Sinai, and the scholar will analyze it via the methods assigned for its analysis, comparing one matter and another. Even where this approach does not follow natural wisdom, we follow the tradition. Philosophical wisdom is natural, though, with great scholars who established natural arguments, and in their great wisdom they dug deeper and corrupted (Hosheia 9:9) and needed to deny the Torah of Moshe, for the Torah is entirely unnatural and revelatory.

"Regarding this it is stated, ‘You shall be pure with HaShem your Gd,’ meaning that even if something is outside of natural logic, you should not doubt the received tradition, but walk before Him in purity. Therefore, you should not bring proof from their words, to make a sign or argument or parable against the just laws of Gd.

"Regarding this the scholar said, ‘Those who enter it will not return,’ meaning that one who enters this area of wisdom will not be able to leave it and introduce his heart to the wisdom of Torah, for he will not be able to return from the natural wisdom to which he has become accustomed. His heart will be continually drawn after it, and he will not be able to establish himself in the wisdom of Torah, which is the path of life, for his heart will be perpetually drawn after natural wisdom. He will try to equate the two wisdoms, and bring proof from one to the other, and so he will warp justice for these are two opposites and rivals which cannot dwell in the same space."

(Responsa of Rosh 55:9)

Have a great day,
Mordechai