Q&A: Question in the Platonism Lecture, Lesson 6
Question in the Platonism Lecture, Lesson 6
Question
When we say that a woman whom a man betrothed conditionally, with a condition that depends on time, and we assume "from now on retroactively," so that in the end, at the end of the time period, the act done before the end of the period determines the outcome of whether she is betrothed or not—then according to Rabbi Shimon Shkop (if I’m not mistaken), in the meantime she has both the properties of a married woman and of an unmarried woman (according to the Rabbi’s explanation). So at that intermediate time, is she metaphysically (Platonically) a married woman or an unmarried woman? After all, from that perspective she cannot be both. Thank you.
Answer
She actually can be. That is the whole Platonist point. See my article, "What Is a Legal Effect?".