Judaic Logic : A formal analysis of Biblical, Talmudic and Rabbinic logic : A formal analysis of Biblical, Talmudic and Rabbinic logic

By Sion, Avi, Dr.

Book Id: WPLBN0100304365
Format Type: PDF eBook:
File Size: 0.1 MB
Reproduction Date: 1/1/1995

Title:	Judaic Logic : A formal analysis of Biblical, Talmudic and Rabbinic logic : A formal analysis of Biblical, Talmudic and Rabbinic logic
Author:	Sion, Avi, Dr.
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Non Fiction, Philosophy, Bible, Commandments (Judaism), Faith and reason, Hermeneutics, Jewish law, Judaism
Collections:	Authors Community, Philosophy
Historic Publication Date:	1995
Publisher:	Avi Sion - Kindle

Member Page:	Avi Sion
Citation APA MLA Chicago Avi Sion, B. D. (1995). Judaic Logic : A formal analysis of Biblical, Talmudic and Rabbinic logic. Retrieved from http://gutenberg.cc/

Description
Judaic Logic is an original inquiry into the forms of thought determining Jewish law and belief, from the impartial perspective of a logician. Judaic Logic attempts to honestly estimate the extent to which the logic employed within Judaism fits into the general norms, and whether it has any contributions to make to them. The author ranges far and wide in Jewish lore, finding clear evidence of both inductive and deductive reasoning in the Torah and other books of the Bible, and analyzing the methodology of the Talmud and other Rabbinic literature by means of formal tools which make possible its objective evaluation with reference to scientific logic. The result is a highly innovative work – incisive and open, free of clichés or manipulation. Judaic Logic succeeds in translating vague and confusing interpretative principles and examples into formulas with the clarity and precision of Aristotelean syllogism. Among the positive outcomes, for logic in general, are a thorough listing, analysis and validation of the various forms of a-fortiori argument, as well as a clarification of dialectic logic. However, on the negative side, this demystification of Talmudic/Rabbinic modes of thought (hermeneutic and heuristic) reveals most of them to be, contrary to the boasts of orthodox commentators, far from deductive and certain. They are often, legitimately enough, inductive. But they are also often unnatural and arbitrary constructs, supported by unverifiable claims and fallacious techniques. Many other thought-processes, used but not noticed or discussed by the Rabbis, are identified in this treatise, and subjected to logical review. Various more or less explicit Rabbinic doctrines, which have logical significance, are also examined in it. In particular, this work includes a formal study of the ethical logic (deontology) found in Jewish law, to elicit both its universal aspects and its peculiarities. With regard to Biblical studies, one notable finding is an explicit formulation (which, however, the Rabbis failed to take note of and stress) of the principles of adduction in the Torah, written long before the acknowledgement of these principles in Western philosophy and their assimilation in a developed theory of knowledge. Another surprise is that, in contrast to Midrashic claims, the Tanakh (Jewish Bible) contains a lot more than ten instances of qal vachomer (a-fortiori) reasoning. In sum, Judaic Logic elucidates and evaluates the epistemological assumptions which have generated the Halakhah (Jewish religious jurisprudence) and allied doctrines. Traditional justifications, or rationalizations, concerning Judaic law and belief, are carefully dissected and weighed at the level of logical process and structure, without concern for content. This foundational approach, devoid of any critical or supportive bias, clears the way for a timely reassessment of orthodox Judaism (and incidentally, other religious systems, by means of analogies or contrasts). Judaic Logic ought, therefore, to be read by all Halakhists, as well as Bible and Talmud scholars and students; and also by everyone interested in the theory, practise and history of logic.

Summary
Judaic logic: A Formal Analysis of Biblical, Talmudic and Rabbinic Logic is an original inquiry into the forms of thought determining Jewish law and belief, from the impartial perspective of a logician. Judaic Logic attempts to honestly estimate the extent to which the logic employed within Judaism fits into the general norms, and whether it has any contributions to make to them.

Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION. 9 1. The Development of Jewish Law. 9 2. A Logic Primer. 13 a. Some propositional forms and their interrelations. 14 b. Inductive logic. 18 c. Deductive logic. 20 2. ADDUCTIVE LOGIC IN THE TORAH. 27 1. The Art of Knowing. 27 2. Adduction in Western Philosophy. 29 3. Adducing Prophecies and Prophethood. 31 4. Logic and Mysticism. 35 3. THE FORMALITIES OF A-FORTIORI LOGIC. 41 1. The Valid Moods. 41 a. Subjectal moods. 42 b. Predicatal moods. 42 c. Antecedental moods. 44 d. Consequental moods. 44 2. Validation Procedures. 46 3. Additional Details. 52 4. QAL VACHOMER. 61 1. Background. 61 2. Samples in the Torah. 64 3. The Dayo Principle. 70 4. Objections! 72 5. Rabbinic Formulations. 76 5. REVISED LIST OF BIBLICAL A-FORTIORI. 79 1. Problems Encountered. 79 2. The Solution Found. 80 3. The Data and their Analysis. 82 4. Synthesis of Results. 86 5. Talmudic/Rabbinic A-Fortiori. 88 6. THE LANGUAGE OF BIBLICAL A-FORTIORI. 91 1. Torah Books. 91 2. Historical Books. 93 3. Other Books. 97 4. Rejects. 102 7. WITHOUT PREJUDICE. 105 1. Taking a Dilemma by its Horns. 105 a. For the religious. 106 b. For the secular. 107 2. About Revision. 109 3. Changes in the Law. 114 8. INITIAL IMPRESSIONS. 117 1. Methods and Contents. 117 2. Davqa or Lav-davqa? 122 3. Kushya and Terutz. 127 4. Standards of Knowledge. 130 9. TRADITIONAL TEACHINGS. 133 1. Hermeneutics. 133 a. Inferences of information. 136 b. Elucidation of terms. 137 c. Harmonization. 139 2. Heuristics. 142 3. A Methodical Approach. 147 10. THE THIRTEEN MIDOT (I). 153 1. Exposition and Evaluation. 153 2. Inference of Information. 155 3. Scope of Terms. 165 11. THE THIRTEEN MIDOT (II). 171 4. Harmonization. 171 12. THE SINAI CONNECTION. 195 1. Verdict on Rabbinic Hermeneutics. 195 2. Artificial Blocks to Natural Development of the Law. 201 3. How "Tradition" Keeps Growing. 209 13. ON THE CONCEPT OF MITZVAH. 213 1. Basic Properties. 213 2. Complementary Factors. 217 3. How to Count Mitzvot. 222 4. Commanded vs. Personal Morality. 228 14. LOGICAL ASPECTS OF EMUNAH. 233 1. On Natural Proofs of Religion. 233 2. Theodicy and the Believer's Wager. 236 3. Faith and Justice. 239 4. Legislated Belief. 241 15. EPILOGUE. 245 1. Motives of the Present Research. 245 2. Conclusions of Our Study. 247 16. APPENDICES. 259 1. Further Notes on A-Fortiori Argument. 259 2. Notions of Time. 262 3. Gematria. 269 4. Three Texts Reviewed. 272 a. Feigenbaum's Understanding the Talmud. 272 b. Rabinowich's Talmudic Terminology. 274 c. The Ramchal's Ways of Reason. 279 5. The Hebrew Language. 281 6. Further Notes on Harmonization Rules. 287 17. ADDENDA AND DIAGRAMS 293 1. Addenda to Judaic Logic 294 2. Diagrams for Judaic Logic 306 REFERENCES 317