Q&A: The Nature of Disputes
The Nature of Disputes
Question
Are most of the disputes among the commentators (Tannaim, Amoraim, medieval authorities (Rishonim), etc.), and likewise most of the disputes among philosophers, of the same kind as the “mild chocolate dilemma” (that is, neither side is mistaken; rather, the two disputants are talking about different considerations—one about health and one about the good taste of the chocolate—and both considerations are true, except that together they create a practical dilemma, and the dispute is only about which consideration should be preferred), or are most disputes more like the “severe chocolate dilemma” (one says to eat it because it is healthy for the body, and one says not to eat it because it is not healthy. Here, one of them is certainly wrong)?
Answer
It’s hard for me to measure majorities and minorities. There are a great many disputes that are simply nonsense—word games and matters of definition. Among the substantive (real) disputes, a significant portion are of that kind.