My parents had a polynomic theory of value. But not being philosophers they did not put it in that way.
For me that means there is a continuum of positive value and an opposing continuum of negative value.
Bu my parents added one value-balance. And the general scheme was called by one name "to be a mensch" i.e. decent human being.
The way I see this is you could take almost any mitzvah and emphasize it. And that would be a good thing to do. Either mitzvahs between God and man or mitzvot between man and man. Just to give you an idea of what I mean. Take the importance of talking with God.
The Gra saw the prime value as being learning Torah. I think that no matter how you cut the cake it would be great if a person could spend all day long just talking with God an asking to come close to his service. Or doing some other mitzvah. Or learning Torah. Or doing kindness. Building a hospital or soup kitchen. But I try to strive for some kind of balance between all areas of positive value. And I try to discern in each area of value what its opposing value is --in order to avoid it.
That is there is authentic Torah. And that is holy. And there is pseudo Torah that is unholy. There are the natural sciences that are good. And there are pseudo sciences that are bad. Same with Music. and Art and literature.
For me that means there is a continuum of positive value and an opposing continuum of negative value.
Bu my parents added one value-balance. And the general scheme was called by one name "to be a mensch" i.e. decent human being.
The way I see this is you could take almost any mitzvah and emphasize it. And that would be a good thing to do. Either mitzvahs between God and man or mitzvot between man and man. Just to give you an idea of what I mean. Take the importance of talking with God.
The Gra saw the prime value as being learning Torah. I think that no matter how you cut the cake it would be great if a person could spend all day long just talking with God an asking to come close to his service. Or doing some other mitzvah. Or learning Torah. Or doing kindness. Building a hospital or soup kitchen. But I try to strive for some kind of balance between all areas of positive value. And I try to discern in each area of value what its opposing value is --in order to avoid it.
That is there is authentic Torah. And that is holy. And there is pseudo Torah that is unholy. There are the natural sciences that are good. And there are pseudo sciences that are bad. Same with Music. and Art and literature.
