Rav Leibowitz
We have concluded that man must use his free will to focus
his intellectual energies on clarifying truth and sharpening his perception of
reality. We identified divine knowledge
as the greatest means for achieving a clear perception of the reality. However, there is another manifestation of
free will that is necessary for man to accomplish his goal of transcending the
animal world and truly embodying his exalted nature. That is, man is not only charged to choose where
to invest his mind, but must also choose to live in accordance with the
knowledge and wisdom he has acquired. Free
will was granted so that man could choose to live that which he has learned.[1]
This is first and foremost in
regards to man’s ability to think abstractly.
We have already mentioned a number of fields where abstract thinking
empowers man to acquire highly sophisticated perspectives and uncover great
truths. But man must also utilize his
abstract thinking in his actual behavior.
Take for example, man’s ability to use his abstract thinking to consider
the results of an act before it is executed.
This intellectual ability cannot simply remain a theoretic rumination. Man must also act in line with the projected
outcome - or more often, refrain from acting considering the projected
outcome. Man’s mind must not simply be a
machine that is able to consider the consequences of his behavior before
he acts. Rather he must actually weigh
his actions before he acts, and then to act in accordance.[2] If man fails to do so, then he is not
fully utilizing his elevated capabilities, as he is not living his knowledge.
The need to live one’s knowledge
is also applicable in terms of the fields of study that man pursues with his
sophisticated abstract mind. Take for
example man’s acquired knowledge of the Divine, which we discussed earlier. If man is successful in grasping knowledge of
God, he is then required to live his life in accordance with that
knowledge. For our current discussion,
we need not address the details of what this entails. For however we define “living in accordance
with divine knowledge” – whether it means daily acknowledgment of God’s
presence through prayer, or if it means being honest in business dealing due to
a recognition of a divinely decreed morality or out of a belief in divine
providence in the realm of one’s livelihood – the point is that it cannot be
knowledge that remains theoretical and abstract. That knowledge of the Divine must be
implemented and find concrete expression in man’s life.
The same principle holds true in
the other realms as well. Take man’s pursuit
of emotional wisdom. Man’s emotional
intelligence can be utilized to acquire emotional wisdom. But in addition, man must then make free
willed decisions to implement that acquired wisdom. Hence, man does not only learn to identify
emotions and understand the influence they exert in human interactions. But he must also train himself to relate to
emotions. Towards himself, man must gain
the ability to modulate his emotions. He
must exercise control over them – knowing when they are to be expressed, and
when to be suppressed. Towards others, his
emotional sensibilities must teach him to relate to others and value their
feelings. He must not only know how to
make others happy, how to broadcasts feelings of disappointment, etc., but he must
also implement these emotional interactions for the betterment of the other and
his relationship with them.
The use of free will to make
life-affecting decisions is also to be manifest in the realm of moral
intelligence. The pursuit of moral truth
is laudable, but it does not stand alone.
After properly acquiring moral knowledge, man must engage his free will to
then make moral decisions - choose right over wrong, choose justice
over injustice, and choose kindness over cruelty.
Man’s intellectual faculty and study of morality must also be
utilized to develop his character and traits.
Methodically, man must use his free will to transform his own character to
be in line with the moral wisdom he has acquired. He must decide to overcome his natural
tendency to follow the whims of his instincts, and instead make conscious choices
about the nature of his character.
With a developed moral intellect, man gains a perspective
that teaches him to appreciate refined behavior and manners.[3] He recognizes the value of living a life of
sympathy, patience, mercy, kindheartedness, and many other positive traits, for
he recognizes their contribution to the betterment of life and their
utilitarian value for his immediate surroundings and society at large. It is man’s intellectual faculty that leads
him to distance boorish actions, to improve his interpersonal behavior, and
strengthen his compassion and caring for others.
Another area where man’s developed intellect is apparent is
in his distancing of arrogance and self-centeredness. When an individual does not internalize moral
wisdom he is arrogant and boastful, dismissive of those he deems to be beneath
him. However, when man properly chooses
to live an elevated moral existence his perceptions of reality are
sharper. He is able to view his
achievements in a proper light and realizes that his abilities do not entitle
him, but rather obligate him to improve the world around him. Such a man maintains a healthy level of
self-confidence as he strikes a balance between pride and humility.
In summation, we see that man’s elevated capability is his
intellect and he must utilize it in pursuit of truth. However, it is not enough to simply utilize
his intellect for study and the acquisition of knowledge. Beyond this, man must also use his free will
to make life-affecting decisions based on his acquired knowledge. Man’s elevated mind does not simply empower
him to acquire knowledge, but also charges him to make decisions and live in
accordance with his acquired knowledge. He
must not only distinguishing between right and wrong, but also choose
right from wrong. It is not enough for
him to clarify moral truths, he must also live by moral
truths. Man must not suffice with engaging
in elevated thought, but must also live an elevated life.
[1] To
clarify: Man, as an inherently elevated creation is largely defined by his
mind. His unique intellectual faculties
enable abstract thinking, provide a number of uniquely human intelligences,
such as emotional and moral intelligence, and equip man with free will. We are now adding that using his free will
must also make life decisions that are in consonance with his acquired wisdom.
[2] “Who
is wise, he that can see that which will transpire [lit: be born]” (Avos
2, 9). The Talmud in tractate Moed
Katan 5a specifically praises one who constantly considers and calculates
his ways, stating that such a person deserves God’s salvation. R. Saadiah Gaon (10th century,
Iraq) writes in Emunos ve-Deos, Section 10 that this foresight is a
defining characteristic of mankind.
[3] Manners and etiquette certainly depend on one’s society and its accepted
norms. What is deemed appropriate in one
culture can be viewed as ill-mannered in another. Yet, man’s intellect first equips him with
the sensitivity to a mannered life and enables him to perceive what the society
he finds himself in considers proper. He
then is able to use his intellect to determine if and how he should align his
behavior with those ideals.
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