Q&A: Methodology
Methodology
Question
Hello Rabbi.
I wanted to ask about the Rabbi’s methodology for analyzing Talmudic passages and drawing conclusions, so that I can better understand some of the articles.
What the Rabbi is trying to do—is it to start dividing things up from a certain intuition, and then at what level of improbability or illogic do you throw that intuition out?
If you also go by logical considerations because of the intuition that they are correct, then when there is a conflict between intuition and logic, shouldn’t that be an even match?
How do you decide between intuitions whose underlying assumptions contradict each other?
And how can you argue with someone who has a different intuition?
Answer
I don’t know how to answer such general questions. The attitude toward intuition, and deciding between intuitions, is itself also a matter of intuition.
You can argue by pointing to the implications and meaning of his claim, and to its connection with other principles. Sometimes he will change his mind, sometimes I will change mine, and sometimes both of us will stick to our positions.