{"id":37,"date":"2006-10-05T15:30:19","date_gmt":"2006-10-05T15:30:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/summametaphysica.com\/ge\/5000-general-intellectual-thrust-of-judaism\/5002-inquiry\/"},"modified":"2018-04-23T16:29:33","modified_gmt":"2018-04-23T16:29:33","slug":"5002-inquiry","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.summametaphysica.com\/ge\/5000-general-intellectual-thrust-of-judaism\/5002-inquiry\/","title":{"rendered":"50.02 Inquiry (pps.39-40)"},"content":{"rendered":"

hard cover page 39<\/p>\n

The importance of philosophical inquiry is pressed home through the centuries.159<\/sup><\/p>\n

. . . whenever the Torah, according to what appears from the external meaning of its words, disagrees with some things which are clear from the point of view of Philosophic Thought. it is proper that we should interpret them in a manner which is in agreement with Philosophic Thought. In this (way) none of the tenets of (our) revealed religion will be destroyed. . . . How much<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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159 <\/sup>Cf. Bleich, With Perfect Faith,<\/em> p. 10. “Bahya also posits an obligation to engage in philosophical investigation directed to the rational demonstration of the objects of belief: ‘. . . Scripture expressly bids you to reflect and exercise your intellect on such themes. After you have attained knowledge of them by the method of tradition which covers all the precepts of the law, their principles and details, you should investigate them with your reason, understanding, and judgment, till the truth becomes clear to you and false notions dispelled; as it is written, “Know this day and lay it to your heart that the Lord, He is God” (Deut. 4:39).’ ”
\nCf. Stitskin, Eight Jewish Philosophers<\/em>, p. 70. “Bar Hiyya .. . states that ‘This biblical reference [“From my flesh, I shall behold God” (Job 19:26)] gives us permission to investigate the views of the classical philosophers and their theories of creation.’ ”
\nCf. Bar Hiyya, Sefer Hegyon ha-Nefesh, <\/em>chap. 1, as quoted in ibid., p. 80. “It is, therefore, incumbent upon every intelligent person endowed with reason and judgment to inquire and to investigate the unique and superior quality of mortal man.”
\nCf. ibid., p. 160. “Solomon ibn Gabirol (1021-1058), the first Jewish philosopher in Spain, begins his magnum opus, Mekor Hayyim,<\/em> with the master addressing his pupil as follows: ‘Inasmuch as by virtue of your native endowments and diligence you have acquired abundant knowledge in the study of the philosophic discipline, you may proceed to inquire about matters close to your heart, and especially about the supreme question concerning the aim of human life, why was man created?’ ”
\nCf. Ibn Falaquera, Sefer ha-Nefesh,<\/em> Introduction, as quoted in ibid., p. 138. “The scholars have also asserted that the mark of perfection is twofold: to love knowledge with utmost devotion and to choose the purest of activities with meaningful intentions.”<\/p>\n

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hard cover page 40<\/p>\n

more proper is it that we should not disagree with Philosophic Thought when we do not find the Torah disagreeing with it.
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u201dGersonides160<\/sup><\/p>\n

The Lord informed us that complete clarification will come to us if we search and reason in every phase of the revelation.
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u201dSaadia161<\/sup><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Support comes as well from an heir to the kabbalistic tradition, the late Chief Rabbi of Palestine, Abraham Isaac Kook.<\/p>\n

As a result of this moral and intellectual refinement, a preliminary conditioning for the actions of the higher spiritual influence, there developed in the Jewish people the inclination to pursue the study and cultivation of nature, the desire for free inquiry, for a clear and rational ethic. This became the heritage of Israel, which is to be found always among Jewish groups and individuals in each generation.
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u201dA. I. Kook162<\/sup><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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160 <\/sup>See Gersonides, Wars of the Lord, <\/em>Third Treatise, chaps. 3-6, as quoted in Bleich, With Perfect Faith,<\/em> p. 463. .<\/p>\n

161 <\/sup>Saadia, Beliefs ad Opinions,<\/em> Introduction.<\/p>\n

162 <\/sup>Kook, The Lights of Penitence,<\/em> in Bokser, Abraham Isaac Kook<\/em>, p. 291. Cf. ibid., p. 371.<\/p>\n

My soul aspires
\nFor the mysteries,
\nFor the hidden secrets of the universe.
\nIt cannot be content
\nWith much knowledge
\nThat probes
\nThe trivialities of life.<\/p>\n

Cf. Kook, Orot ha-Kodesh,<\/em> as cited in ibid., p. 9. “And as man grows in the scale of perfection, ne draws upon all ideas, his own and those of others, for the kernel of abiding truth. He is made more perfect through them, and they through him.”<\/p>\n

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