 | Hi, I recently came across this line from the Chazon Ish, printed in the attached Kovetz Igros Siman 171. The Chazon Ish writes that ALL of philosophy is empty chatter (עמל פה, rough yet fairly accurate translation). This includes the writings of Immanuel Kant, specifically, and directly implies the same about everyone else, like Aristotle, Plato, Nietzsche, etc. etc. I mean… wtf. I don’t know much philosophy, but how can a reasonable person make such a statement? Did he really think that all these people, as well as the entirety of the non-Ultra-Orthodox academic world, were blithering idiots? Such a view seems extraordinarily arrogant, small-minded, and ignorant, and I’m struggling to reconcile this with the image of the Chazon Ish that I have been raised with. I appreciate anyone, especially who has studied philosophy, who can explain what the Chazon Ish may have meant. TY! submitted by /u/Kol_bo-eha |
Source: Reditt
