One of the main idea of Musar was to help people develop good character traits. Is it effective? I think so. From my own experience in the Mir in NY and in Shar Yashuv I would have to say that learning books of ethics actually helps one develop good character to some degree. But it is not fool-proof. [It is like Steven Dutch wrote: "I am completely unable to conceive of any system that can not be abused and used for personal power and profit."
So the fact that a system can be abused does not count against it in the larger picture. [This idea is an ancient Roman proverb: "Abusus non tollit usum." (Abuse does not cancel use.)] The real questions are if it is true and does it bring people to a higher level of objective morality at least to some degree? Since both these conditions are certainly fulfilled by Musar and the general Litvak yeshiva approach I have to put in my two cents worth of approval.
[Rav Shach also wrote as much in the introduction to one of the volumes of the Avi Ezri.]
Especially at the start of every day right when you wake up--learn Musar. Or if you know there is some particular area you need to work on then find the parts of Musar that deal with that area and especially some short paragraphs and say them right when you wake up before you say anything else.
So the fact that a system can be abused does not count against it in the larger picture. [This idea is an ancient Roman proverb: "Abusus non tollit usum." (Abuse does not cancel use.)] The real questions are if it is true and does it bring people to a higher level of objective morality at least to some degree? Since both these conditions are certainly fulfilled by Musar and the general Litvak yeshiva approach I have to put in my two cents worth of approval.
[Rav Shach also wrote as much in the introduction to one of the volumes of the Avi Ezri.]
Especially at the start of every day right when you wake up--learn Musar. Or if you know there is some particular area you need to work on then find the parts of Musar that deal with that area and especially some short paragraphs and say them right when you wake up before you say anything else.
