Q&A: A Fortiori Inference
A Fortiori Inference
Question
To the honorable Rabbi Michael Abraham,
Best regards,
I have a question for you, as someone well-versed in the interpretive principles by which the Torah is expounded:
At times the principle of a fortiori inference is called in the language of the Sages “lenient and stringent,” and at times it is called “logical derivation.” Is there an explanation for the difference between these two names?
Thank you in advance for your reply,
Answer
I am not aware of such a distinction.
I would just note that Maimonides, in the second root, treats the rule that “we do not derive punishments from a logical derivation” as though it refers to all thirteen interpretive principles, and not only to a fortiori inference. And Nachmanides, in his glosses, criticizes him for this.
On the relationship between a fortiori inference and logical derivation, you can see here:
https://mikyab.net/%D7%9B%D7%AA%D7%91%D7%99%D7%9D/%D7%9E%D7%90%D7%9E%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9D/%D7%93%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%A9-%D7%9C%D7%9C%D7%92-%D7%91%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%9E%D7%A8/