It's that time of the week again! Yes, it's time for you all (/Emma) to look at my Calvin & Hobbes comic and decipher how it relates to what we've learned in Kohelet. What do you think? Irrelevant? Relevant? How so? I'll give you some time to think...
By now you've probably realized that the answer is in the title of the post. Yes, it's time to talk about the Chacham, ya'll.
Mr. Wise Guy.
Mr. Let Me Articulate This.
Mr. Get-Your-Heads-Outta-The-Gutter other guys
Mr. Reality.
This particularly comic addresses the critique of the חכם pointed out by the Yirei Elohim. The criticism here is to the methodology of the חכם . The חכם wanted to use his own intellect to explore the world. Essentially, the חכם was using "one 'fact'" that he "made up" (to quote the Calvin and Hobbes). Following the metaphor of the Yirei Elokim (that can be traced back to Mishleh), the חכם was using the 'bad wisdom' that is analogous to the prostitute woman who ensnares men. This is the kind of wisdom that comes about when a person relies on his own sense of morals and ethics to view the world. The real, true wisdom is 'good' wisdom, represented by a good, supportive woman. This wisdom stems from Yirat Elokim: ethics, morality- recognition of God. This is what the חכם is missing (according to the Yirei Elokim).
What do you think of the חכם. I kind of like him, I've got to say. Now that my main main the Amal is gone, the חכם is my only hope. He better not jump to extremes and get voted off the island. So far the only hole is in his methodology- but I don't really support that flaw. I mean, ultimately, everything is somebody's "personal truth". We talked about this to death on Bronfman; it became a real eye-roller very soon. Everybody has their own "universal truth" that is ultimately just their "personal truth". Can there really be a truth that trumps all other truths? Just because somebody includes God in their 'truth' doesn't mean it's still not their idea that they have claimed.
I also have a problem with this whole 'good' wisdom thing. Let's say you 'back up your wisdom' by saying that you were thinking of God all along... who's to say that you didn't just make it up? I guess I don't really get the differences between the two wisdoms. Anybody want to help me out? Differentiate between 'bad' and 'good' wisdom. It seems to me that all of our opinions stem from our personal morals and ethics. There are facts of life that can be proven by science. And then there are things that are opinions. Aren't all our opinions 'bad' wisdom? Our opinions are our morals and ethics and how we view the world. Sure, we can recognize God as above us, yadayada, but is that all it takes to switch from Good to Bad wisdom?
Hi! I'm commenting on here, so at least there's someone answering one or two of the questions you "spoon feed" to us!
ReplyDeleteRegarding your question about whether there can be "a truth that trumps all other truths," I think that it's subjective. I think that any truth to which one adheres, whether it's a truth one comes up with him/herself or a thruth that one hears somewhere which makes sense, each person has to decide for oneself what one's "personal" truths are.
So to answer your question, I don't think that there is one particular truth that rules over all other truths for everyone, but each person's main "personal truth"- the one that connects best for them, is equal with anyone else's main "personal truth."
It makes the world a difficult, argumentative place, but so is life.
First of all, I thought your comic applied very well -- so cool that Calvin & Hobbes always applies to Kohelet.
ReplyDeleteAlso - your question about 'can there be a truth that trumps all other truths.' I agree with what you say -- everything is ultimately a personal truth. I guess when many people agree with a truth (maybe within a religion?) it's easier for them to claim it's a triumphant truth, but at the end of the day it's just a personal truth that multiple people share.
I also agree with you about the good & bad wisdom: I think if you take this out of the framework of religion, how is either one good or bad wisdom?
I see how it would make sense for a religious person to say well good wisdom is one that involves G-d, but to those who don't identify with that religious idea it really sounds like a bunch of garbage.
I hadn't really thought of it before but I think you may be right: all of us are really using 'bad wisdom' - the things we think and conclusions we make about the world really stem from personal beliefs.