[Avodah] The RAMBAM on Studying Algebra, etc.

[Prof. Levine]

The following is from Shemoneh Perakim as translated by Rabbi Eliyahu 
Touger and is given on page 36 of Maimonides Pirkei Avot.

Instead, it is proper that a person direct all his activities, his 
physical health, and the maintenance of his existence so that the 
limbs [of his body] serve as perfect media for his soul. Then his 
soul will be able to exercise the ethical and intellectual virtues 
without any impediment.

Needless to say, everything that a person learns in his studies and 
the sciences that leads to that purpose [is desirable]. Other 
[studies] that are not directly related to this purpose -e.g., 
algebra, mathematical equations, geometry, extensive inquiry into 
engineering, the study of weights and the like - should be directed 
toward the purpose of sharpening one's mind and training one's sense 
of logic to seek proofs, so that a person will grasp the power to 
distinguish one concept from another. This will provide him with a 
medium to reach the knowledge of the truth of His Being.


----------
The NY State Regents Exams in algebra, geometry and trigonometry will 
be given in June. I trust that rebbeim in yeshivas will make the 
above clear to those of their talmidim who will be taking these Regents.

Yitzchok Levine 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.aishdas.org/pipermail/avodah-aishdas.org/attachments/20110408/bbc52893/attachment.htm>