Q&A: The Author’s Intention or the Work’s Intention
The Author’s Intention or the Work’s Intention
Question
Hello Rabbi,
I’m currently listening to the lecture series on interpretation (and enjoying it מאוד), and I wanted to ask about lecture 4 (which is where I’m up to): does the Rabbi view Jewish law as some kind of Platonic idea that is understood מתוך the text itself (as a replacement for the “spirit of the age”), and therefore the author’s intention is not relevant?
Because if so, then surely even for a yeshiva-style learner, a contradiction in Maimonides would be no more disturbing than a dispute between Rashba and Maimonides, since in both cases one has to find the ideal truth.
P.S. Thank you very much for the lectures
Answer
Hello,
A contradiction in Maimonides is disturbing in any case, because even if we interpret the book and not the person, it is still a contradiction in the book. One can discuss a contradiction between Maimonides’ responsa or his Commentary on the Mishnah and the Mishneh Torah. There, it really is a contradiction in the person and not in the work. Still, as I wrote in my article on hermeneutics (where in the meantime I have changed my mind on several points), a person’s view is an excellent candidate for being a good interpretation of the text. So even if one is not looking for what the person thought, gaining insight into his thinking provides an interpretation of his work.
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%91%D7%99%D7%9F-%D7%9E%D7%97%D7%A7%D7%A8-%D7%9C%D7%A2%D7%99%D7%95%D7%9F-%D7%94%D7%A8%D7%9E%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%99%D7%98%D7%99%D7%A7%D7%94-%D7%A9%D7%9C-%D7%98%D7%9B%D7%A1%D7%98%D7%99%D7%9D-%D7%A7/
Discussion on Answer
Mainly regarding providence over the Torah scholarship product. I don’t think there was such providence, certainly not all along the way, and there is no need to assume it either.
I don’t know.
In what way did the Rabbi change his mind? And why?
Does the Rabbi write about this in those new details that are supposed to be published in the future? And when will they actually be published?