Q&A: Ayekh
Ayekh
Question
From my point of view, values are basically just another fact that things are supposed to be such-and-such — that this is what’s right. But why should I care if that’s what’s right? Meaning, if I’m obligated and supposed to, why the hell should that matter to me? Does the Rabbi see any reason to do what one ought to do?
Answer
And if I were to show such a reason, let’s call it X. Now you could think and ask: why on earth should X matter to me?
So what do you want from me? (And why the hell should that interest me? 🙂 )
Discussion on Answer
It is not true that a person’s only motive is pleasure. See column 120.
And the main thing:
May it be fulfilled in you: “You shall rejoice in your festival, and you shall be ayekh-simyakh,” for after all, “it is a great joy to always be commanded” ; and thus the Lord promised our forefathers: “And you shall burst forth…” to all the winds 🙂
With blessings, Simcha Fish”l HaLevi Plankton
I meant more than that, and I’ll explain. A person’s motive is pleasure, and there are several kinds of pleasure — physical biological pleasure: food, massage, and the like; intellectual pleasure, like chess or mathematics; and also a person’s desire to seek meaning, which seemingly depends on society and culture, and there really is no meaningful thing in itself. Everything depends on all our experiences, which change based on external factors. Where do values come in?