Q&A: Knowing the Truth Because It Is True
Knowing the Truth Because It Is True
Question
Hello Rabbi. In your opinion, is there value in knowing certain kinds of wisdom, like mathematics and physics, in and of themselves—that is, not for the sake of using the knowledge or sharpening the mind, but simply in order to know what is true?
Thank you
Answer
In my opinion, definitely yes.
Discussion on Answer
There is value in knowing wisdom. That too is knowledge of the Holy One, blessed be He, who created the world. It is not like Torah study, because Torah and wisdom are not the same thing. Not everything of value is Torah study. Logic is like any other field of wisdom.
1) When you say that there is value in knowing wisdom, do you mean that this is the fundamental value that cannot be grounded in something else, and it is simply self-evident to you?
2) What counts as wisdom? Chess? Law? Matching colors in clothing?
1. Yes. Every value is like that.
2. I do not have a general definition.
I also have a kind of intuition that the answer is yes. Do you know how to explain why that is? I thought maybe something similar to the explanation in Nefesh HaChaim for why one studies Torah: that the Holy One, blessed be He, and His will are one, so knowing His will in the creation of the world is a form of cleaving to Him. Do you agree with that explanation? And if so, does this kind of study have value exactly like Torah study? And likewise, would studying logic—which does not contain anything of the will of the Holy One, blessed be He, since logic does not generate anything on its own—not have this value?