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On the value of autonomy

שו”תCategory: philosophyOn the value of autonomy
asked 9 years ago

I heard a lesson from the rabbi today (on Torah and morality) and the rabbi talks about the value of “autonomy” and how it originates from “Protestantism” and does not seem to be from the Jewish “corpus”, but the rabbi accepts the value regardless of its origin.
From the rabbi’s words, it is clear that if we were raised in a different culture, the perception would be different.
And I looked at things and if so, how can one give meaning to such thinking since I know the reason it exists, and just as if I convince the schizophrenic that his thoughts are false thoughts and he accepts it, it would not be logical to say that he should act according to his opinion since there is no value to such an opinion.
Although I have no problem with the person himself acting in accordance with identification in matters that are solely his own for whatever reason he wants, since there is no necessity for his actions, but in matters that concern God’s will, what value does the point of identification have? Ultimately, the question is what is God’s will?
And I thought of 3 ways that one might understand why to follow this view even though it is culture-dependent.
A. It is possible that even though it was renewed in a certain culture, it can also be proven to a person from a different cultural perspective. (However, proof of this must be provided.)
B. Or we approach the matter from a faith perspective, that values ​​and culture develop according to God’s will, and along with them the form of the Torah changes from generation to generation.
C. That there is a Torah value that the Torah will exist from a place of identification with the existence of the Torah, and therefore in each generation the form of identification will be the form of perspective of the current generation, and since that is the case, those who live in a culture that sanctifies “autonomy” will be obligated to exist from a place of self-thinking.
I would be happy to receive the Rabbi’s response to this discussion.


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מיכי Staff answered 9 years ago
Rafi Shalom. I no longer remember the lesson and my words, but it seems to me that there is indeed some Protestant dimension to the value of autonomy. In any case, I think I accept this value and it is also firmly rooted in our sources. It may have been necessary for Protestantism to be discovered and understood that it is true. This is how our perception and culture develop. Therefore, the fact that something was drawn from the outside does not invalidate it. As long as you think it is true, then from your perspective it is true. The fact that there was an influence on you is a fact that you cannot escape from and should not escape from. Man is the totality including all the influences on him, and that is how God created him (even if he is not the source of the influences, as you wrote in proposition b, he is certainly the one who created us as we are – influenced). And is it possible to think in isolation from the influences that have been and are upon us? Therefore, when “you” think thus and so, it means that you are born + all the influences. In any case, I think your three suggestions are correct and plausible (except for b, where I tend to think that God is no longer involved in the world in our generation). I’m just saying that my words were written too generally, since the value of autonomy is distilled into an explanation. It can be a title for many things. But it is quite clear that a person is supposed to make his own decisions and act accordingly. We also have no other option. Even if we decide to completely subordinate ourselves to someone or some book, that is also our decision.

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