Q&A: "The Sacrifice of Reason"
"The Sacrifice of Reason"
Question
Hello Rabbi,
There is an approach according to which God, or the Torah, demands from us the "sacrifice of reason" by commanding us things that we cannot understand intellectually.
I read that this is also a Christian position, but Rabbi Soloveitchik too (and presumably others as well) writes in his article "Genius and Humility": "What does man value more than the intellect, which is the focus of the consciousness of human dignity? And yet, precisely because of this superiority of the intellect in human life, the Torah at times demands a suspension of logical authority. Man humbles himself by responding to instructions that the intellect does not know how to fit into his system of values… Man, the rational creature, disregards reason and lives in a world of laws whose rational purpose he has no power to grasp… Of all that is most desirable and most precious, it is precisely this that man is required to forgo."
What do you think of this approach? Do you agree with it?
On the one hand, according to this, it could also serve as a justification for idol worshipers: true, it seems like the stupidest thing to do, but really it is a sublime act because we are setting reason aside…
On the other hand, we do believe that there are things beyond our intellectual understanding, and this is an interesting way to look at things.
Thanks in advance
Answer
It depends what is meant. If the intent is to bow before something I do not understand—then that is certainly true. All the commandments are like that. But if the intent is to accept contradictions—that is just nonsense. Beyond that, if there is something illogical, I would accept it if I were convinced that it is found in the Torah and was given by the Holy One, blessed be He. The sages do not have the privilege of saying something illogical and expecting me to accept it. They are human beings like me and you.
To set reason aside is never sublime. It is stupid and childish, and certainly when people turn it into an ideology. This is of course a common Christian conception (Kierkegaard, Tertullian), and from there it made its way into the Jewish sphere. Sometimes reason itself says that if the Holy One, blessed be He, said something, then it is probably true even if I do not understand it. That itself is a rational consideration, just like a doctor who prescribes me medicine and I trust him even though I do not understand it. Is that sublime too?
Discussion on Answer
That is a different question, unrelated to the discussion.
If that is your view, then do not listen to Him. As far as I am concerned, commitment to the divine command is not connected to the question of consequences. True, independently of that I also trust that the actions He demands lead to good results. I trust Him, and therefore it is similar to a doctor. If you do not have that trust, then indeed it is not similar, and do not listen. But that is a question unrelated to the discussion here.
With a doctor it is different, because there are past observations showing that he is right, and even if there is no one-hundred-percent certainty, there is a high probability that the diagnosis is correct and that the treatment he proposes will help. In contrast, with the Holy One, blessed be He, it does not seem that a person receives reward and punishment in accordance with observance or non-observance of the commandments.