Wednesday, August 10, 2022

Determinism and Free Will - nonsense

 https://www.cardozoacademy.org/thoughtstoponder/determinism-and-free-will-ttp-258/

Those who study these narratives very carefully will realize, however, that the midrash was not obliged to give this interpretation. It could have allowed for an explanation which would be much more in line with the idea of free will and would be easier on God. But it did not. It took the difficult road, to emphasize the paradox of free will versus determinism, and it dared to accuse God of a deliberate and false accusation against man.

7 comments :

  1. what part of it are you calling nonsense?

    Cardozo's presentation?
    the midrash itself?

    or the dichotomy of free will vs determinism?

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  2. Cardozo's understanding of the medrash

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  3. And correct view is?

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  4. There is the ancient issue of whether G-d's knowledge of the future id causative which he conveniently ignores!

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  5. I have a question on this, an even stronger case; G_d tells Moshe that after he will die, Israel will backtrack and violate the Torah. This is then written in the Torah.
    It is not causative - but it seems like a free will problem. Do they have the free will to not sin? If so, what would it say about the prophecy?

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  6. he is not ignoring the question, he addressing it.
    As a philosopher, he is treating free will and determinism as logical opposites.
    The problem is not one that has been solved by any philosopher or religious figure.

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  7. Why is no one referencing Rabbi Avika's mishnah in Avos that deals with this?

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