[Avodah] dinosaurs

[Micha Berger]

On Mon, Nov 02, 2009 at 10:38am EST, RCM "hankman" wrote:
: You say "but not 'both are true.'" ...

Usually eilu va'eilu isn't about a question of truth, but of law. You
could have two valid rulings that contradict, each flowing from TSBP
following the proper rules of pesaq. This approach can be mapped to any of
the rishonim who say that machloqes is caused by different constructions
of new law (rather than forgetfullness).

: (I see no middle ground between true and false, like maybe true, possibly
: true, partially true, good sources but ultimately false, with reason
: but ultimately false)...

If the truth is beyond human comprehension, then we have another
possibility. Someone who can only see shadows could see two very different
shadows of the same object. Both shadows accurately represent a mapping
of G-d's supernal truth to the limitations of human experience, even
though they contradict. This is the Maharal's approach.

R' Tzadoq (Resisei Lailah #17) writes about how the law of contradiction
only exists bepo'al. When dealing in machashavah, a thought always
invites contemplation of its opposite. People believe contradictory
things all the time. It's only when mapping to po'al that we must say
"vehalakhah ke..."

>                                     I prefer the paradox of "Schrodinger's
> Mamzer." At least it does no harm to foundational concepts of emes. Also
> it is a paradox I may not understand but must live anyway with if I accept
> the veracity of quantum mechanics (at least with this interpretation).

Why invoke arcane physics when we can discuss halakhah in terms of the
roshem on people? That way, we can blame eilu va'eilu on the human
ability to entertain conflicting thoughts, to be ambivalent, to hold
dialectics and antinomies. By not dealing with physics, the concept of
paradox isn't such a problem. And I wonder if R' Tzadoq was thinking of
Kantian or Hegelian dialectics when he wrote the above... But in any
case, ambivalence and preparing for both possibilities when uncertain
are not obstruce philosophical points.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             You will never "find" time for anything.
micha at aishdas.org        If you want time, you must make it.
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