Carpe Diem
This is how I think of the Nehaneh at the end. I think he's basically telling us to carepe that diem like nothing else matters. According to him, nothing else actually does matter. Nobody is accountable. When you die you'll be rotting in the ground and nothing else. This isn't negative; this is just (his) truth. So why not seize the day? Why not live every day like it's your last? Why have regrets when you can choose to live your life to its fullest? To the Nehaneh, this means that we should eat, drink, be merry, and be with the ones we love. What do you think about this idea?
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Gabriel=Kohelet
I don't know how many of you read Gabriel's article in the CYHSB weekly this week, but I highly suggest that you all do. In his article "The Perfection of Being Imperfect" Goldstein touches on many of the ideas that we've been discussing throughout the sefer. (Fun fact: Gabriel hasn't even studied Kohelet.)
The article begins with Gabriel's assertion that perfection is "unattainable". As we know from the text, the Amal struggled with the idea of perfection. He wanted everything to be perfect and thought it was hevel that we couldn't be perfect and therefore our creations couldn't be perfect. The Amal didn't want to accept this. Among other things, this refusal to get past the idea of imperfection is what knocked him out off the island. Gabriel, on the other hand, has "come to terms with the fact that imperfection is reality." This sounds more like the chacham. Being a realist. Accepting certain truths. People can't be perfect. The end.
Like the rest of the characters in the sefer, Gabriel describes how he was on a pursuit of self-actualization. Here, he again echoes the sentiments of the Chacham: "I've long wondered why our God, a perfect God, would create a world riddled with crime, murder, and deceit." (Or maybe this echoes a little bit of the early Amal? What do you guys think about this one? I'm not sure.) He describes this as a world in which "the good die young, the undeserving are unjustly punished, and awful things happen to righteous people." Here, again, he tackles on an issue that is discussed largely throughout the second half of the sefer. Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do good things happen to bad people? How can you have both?
The Nehaneh would answer this question by saying that we don't have responsibility for our actions. Goldtein, on the other hand, contends that these imperfections give us the opportunity to grow and recognize that there are some things greater than ourselves. It appears, then, that he is saying that meaning in life comes from experience and growing. This sounds an awful lot like the beliefs of the Yirat Elohim and his idea that "life is about the journey". Gabriel reveals that he was on the brink of giving up on God because of these deep questions. If so, he may have soon fallen into the philosophy of the Nehaneh. Instead, though, he came to realize the necessity of imperfection.
"God created imperfection so that those who genuinely desire a better world will emerge to change the course of history."
Do you agree or disagree with the philosophies of Gavriel? Whose philosophies do they most closely correlate to? Can humans make a difference in the world and "change the course of history"? What is the purpose of imperfection, according to your own philosophies?
(Did you really think I would finish off without a Calvin and Hobbes comic? You silly people..)
These were also my thoughts when reading Gabe's article! Without even realizing it, he made many of the exact same points that are presented in Kohelet. I think this is another proof of how relevant Kohelet is, even to this day. The book is truly timeless; clearly these ideas are something that people still explore and struggle with in their lives.
ReplyDeleteWhat I love about this class is that it's basically a Judaic Studies class and a philosophy class rolled into one. Maybe, just maybe, after learning Kohelet I can apply some of the ideas to my life. (Except for the Amal's end philosophy. He is the WORST).
It's so interesting that someone who didn't even read Kohelet actually wrote an article reflecting all of the ideas that are contained in Kohelet. I guess it goes to show you how real each of these characters really could be, and that we come in contact with them every day.
ReplyDeleteI think that the idea of "I've long wondered why our God, a perfect God, would create a world riddled with crime, murder, and deceit" comes from both the Chacham and the early-Amal, like you said. I think that both of them expressed this idea.
As nice as Gabe's ideas sound.. like we said in class: it kind of just sounds like a bunch of fluffy stuff. It sounds like one of those answers we were talking about, in the context of our discussion of the Yirei Elokim, that is just pure fluff.
I think each character in Kohelet would respond to "can humans really change the course of history" - and I surely don't know! I think it would be nice if they could, I hope I can, but can they?