[Avodah] Psak in Machshava

[Yosef Gavriel Bechhofer]

On 1/3/2013 8:49 PM, joelirich at xcomcast.net wrote:
> I think we've discussed the general issue of psak in machshava (or at
> least in the ikkarim). For some reason (and I apologize if we've covered
> this already) it just hit me that the gemara in Eruvin 13b specifically
> uses what IIUC is the language of psak in a case of machshava..
...
> [For two and a half years Beith Shammai and Beith Hillel argued. These
> [Beith Shammai] said "It is better for man not to have been created than
> to have been created." And those [Beith Hillel] said "It is better for
> man to have been created." Together, they [reviewed the opinions and]
> reached a consensus: It is better for man to have not been created than
> to have been created.
...

It wasn't a "vote." They reached a consensus. See the Maharal Derech
Chaim 2:9.

KT,
YGB