Saturday, October 17, 2009

Justice - Harvard Prof Michael Sandel #3

2 comments :

  1. whoa what's this doing on your blog? My poor yeshiva yungeman's eyes didn't come on the "daas torah" blog to get a good look at the inappropriately dressed college girls in this... what's it have to do with anything, anyways?

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  2. Frumak said...

    whoa what's this doing on your blog? My poor yeshiva yungeman's eyes didn't come on the "daas torah" blog to get a good look at the inappropriately dressed college girls in this... what's it have to do with anything, anyways?
    ==================
    A very solid question which indicates that this material is probably not for you.

    1) There are opportunities in this world which require you to do a cost benefit analysis. Would you go to Hebrew University Library where you need to pass by inappropriately dressed students?

    2) Rav Moshe talks about going to work on a bus or subway or walking down the street where you are exposed to sights and experiences which are not kosher - he doesn't prohibit it.

    3) Maybe you should be be more concerned with the philosophical ideas which you are exposed to in the tape. Some of which might disagree with the Torah point of view

    You have the option of 1)not viewing the tape 2) turn your eyes away at the offensive places 3) just listening rather than watching 4)not reading this blog 5) avoiding the internet.

    I have a friend whose internet filter blocks my blog because I have words such as sexual abuse, rape etc. Some are turned off by my discussion of child abuse while others find it difficult when I bring up criticism of certan rabbis. Please don't feel obligated to read

    To answer your question - the video concerns a top secular scholar wrestling with the nature of moral dilemmas and alternative solutions. The Rambam in Shemona Perakim says that one takes the truth no matter where it comes from. See also Megila (16a)“Whoever says wisdom even if he not Jewish is called a wise man" There is much discussion in the Rishonim i.e., Ran, Ramban, Rambam etc that say that one is rewarded for following natural moral reasoning - and punished when you don't.

    There is a chazal that says that if they say there is Torah amongst the goyim don't believe it but if they say that there is wisdom than that you can believe.

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