Q&A: Do Philosophical Lives Have Greater Value Than Lives Without Thought?
Do Philosophical Lives Have Greater Value Than Lives Without Thought?
Question
Hello,
In your opinion, is there value (moral or religious) in engaging in philosophy? Not as an act driven by a psychological need to understand the world, but as a value-laden act, perhaps even a religious one?
If so, I’d be glad to hear your reasoning for why, in your view, philosophy is a worthwhile pursuit.
Thank you
Answer
I don’t think there is religious value in it, but I also don’t accept the concept of religious value apart from Jewish law. Values beyond Jewish law are, by definition, universal (though their basis is God’s will, as far as I understand it. See the fourth notebook, vol. 3). In my opinion, there is value in it, as in any form of wisdom. It’s a bit hard to answer the question of why, for two reasons: 1. No value can really be rationalized (it is the foundational ethical assumption). Why is human life valuable? That’s just how it is. 2. The answer itself would make use of wisdom, so it seems absurd to me to demand a justification for why wisdom is important.
Discussion on Answer
Possible. But it’s odd to talk about the value of character refinement in becoming a thinking person without assigning value to the content of the thought itself. If its content has no value, then what value is there in being a thinking person?
Rabbi Michi,
On the face of it, one could say that studying philosophy is an exercise in character refinement. Through philosophical engagement, a person acquires the mental trait of being a thinking person, rather than someone who is simply dragged along.
Do you agree?
As Rabbi Shach already said: "There is no greater sin than being stupid."