[Avodah] kol hamosif, gorea

[Micha Berger]

On Mon, Feb 22, 2010 at 06:23:24PM -0500, Rich, Joel wrote:
:> I think it was a strategic decision. In order to keep bachurim in
:> yeshiva rather than heading off to university, the methodology of gemara
:> study that attracts the same talmidim would become popular.

: Which would imply that R' Chaim was influenced by the secular/scientific
: world, which iiuc would not be an acceptable explanation to the Torah
: Only approach which our R' Chaim (Manaster) was referring to.

Not at all, which is why I phrased that last clause in the passive.

I think R' Chaim's derekh is the product of how R' Chaim's mind worked.

Its popularity was a strategic decision -- they saw what drew the boys.
Brisker derekh fit the zeitgeist. Either someone noticed that consciously,
as implied by my words "strategic decision" or someone simply noted its
success at retaining boys where other darkhei limud were losing them
to universities.

And besides, it takes very little knowledge of what is taught in a
university to get the broad brushstrokes of how its methodologies differ
from the lack-of-system that is pilpulistic reasoning. It doesn't really
threaten the Torah-Only approach to admit /that/ much awareness.

Tir'u baTov!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             It is our choices...that show what we truly are,
micha at aishdas.org        far more than our abilities.
http://www.aishdas.org                           - J. K. Rowling
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