Q&A: The Measure of Kal Va-Chomer
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
The Measure of Kal Va-Chomer
Question
Hello,
I wanted to ask where I can find an article on the logic of the kal va-chomer inference and its refutations, since I found several Talmudic passages where the refutations suggested by the Talmud did not satisfy me. (In addition, if you wrote an article on kim lei bid'rabba minei, I would be happy to know where it can be found.)
Thanks in advance, Ezra.
Answer
I don’t think an article on kal va-chomer will necessarily answer your difficulties with particular passages. I wrote an article on kal va-chomer and binyan av, in which I proposed a systematic and general formalization. It was published in two long installments in Badad. They appear here on the site:
I didn’t write about kim lei bid'rabba minei.