Comments on: Natural Morality and Halakhah http://www.aishdas.org/asp/2009/05/morality-n-halakhah.shtml Keeping values and meaning in focus. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:16:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: micha http://www.aishdas.org/asp/2009/05/morality-n-halakhah.shtml/comment-page-1#comment-52809 micha Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.aishdas.org/asp/?p=661#comment-52809 First, I'm not sure what it means to serve G-d for His Sake. <blockquote>And what difference does it make to HQBH whether an animal is slaughtered from the front of the neck or the back? Surely you must say the mitzvos were only given for the purpose of refining people through them, as it says, “every word of God is refined”. (Mishlei 30:5) - Bereishis Rabba 44:1</blockquote> I think we also need to distinguish between doing a mitzvah because it makes you happy for ulterior reasons, and the happiness that comes from doing a mitzvah because you're doing what Hashem made you to do. I don't think the latter is selfish because the only reason why it brings the happiness that motivates you is lishmah. -micha First, I’m not sure what it means to serve G-d for His Sake.

And what difference does it make to HQBH whether an animal is slaughtered from the front of the neck or the back? Surely you must say the mitzvos were only given for the purpose of refining people through them, as it says, “every word of God is refined”. (Mishlei 30:5)
- Bereishis Rabba 44:1

I think we also need to distinguish between doing a mitzvah because it makes you happy for ulterior reasons, and the happiness that comes from doing a mitzvah because you’re doing what Hashem made you to do. I don’t think the latter is selfish because the only reason why it brings the happiness that motivates you is lishmah.

-micha

]]> By: Yona http://www.aishdas.org/asp/2009/05/morality-n-halakhah.shtml/comment-page-1#comment-52710 Yona Thu, 01 Jan 1970 00:00:00 +0000 http://www.aishdas.org/asp/?p=661#comment-52710 Regarding the question of "why serve G-d?" my approach now is to say that our soul intuitively wants to serve G-d because He is infinite perfection; we want good (natural morality) and He is the Good. So the question doesn't make any sense; it is asking "why live according to truth, goodness, justice and wisdom. However, I want to serve G-d for His sake - I want to good because I want to do good - and not for any ulterior or selfish motives. But the problem is that when I want something I by definition want it because it gives me pleasure (either physically or psychologically; it makes me feel good or good about myself). So are we ever serving G-d? I do things either because my body or subconscious or soul wants it (the soul wants self-actualization). We only desire something when we think it will give us pleasure. Even a marriage - on the highest level - we want to give to the other because we want to be givers. Is there true altruism in the world? Regarding the question of “why serve G-d?” my approach now is to say that our soul intuitively wants to serve G-d because He is infinite perfection; we want good (natural morality) and He is the Good. So the question doesn’t make any sense; it is asking “why live according to truth, goodness, justice and wisdom.
However, I want to serve G-d for His sake – I want to good because I want to do good – and not for any ulterior or selfish motives. But the problem is that when I want something I by definition want it because it gives me pleasure (either physically or psychologically; it makes me feel good or good about myself).
So are we ever serving G-d? I do things either because my body or subconscious or soul wants it (the soul wants self-actualization). We only desire something when we think it will give us pleasure. Even a marriage – on the highest level – we want to give to the other because we want to be givers. Is there true altruism in the world?

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