Q&A: The Status of Logical Reasoning
The Status of Logical Reasoning
Question
As part of the Rabbi’s lectures on logical reasoning, this week I saw an interesting passage in the Talmud, Zevahim 96b, that is worth sharing.
"Rav Yitzhak bar Yehuda would regularly study before Rami bar Hama. He left him and went to Rav Sheshet. One day he met him and said to him: Have you taken hold of a basket of fragrant herbs that its scent has come to you in this way because you went to Rav Sheshet? Have you become like Rav Sheshet? He said to him: Not because of that, master. Rather, when I need something, you resolve it for me through reasoning, but when I find a Mishnah that refutes it, Rav Sheshet refutes it. But when I need something from him, he resolves it for me from a Mishnah, so that even if you find a Mishnah and challenge it, it is Mishnah against Mishnah."
Answer
The responsa section is not intended for sharing things. You can post this as a comment in a relevant place instead, for example under the article on logical reasoning.