Jewish philosophy -- Early works to 1800; Judaism -- Works to 1900; Philosophy, Medieval -- Early works to 1800
The Fourth Reason is taken from the physical constitution of man. It
has been proved that moral conduct is a preparation for intellectual
progress, and that only a man whose character is pure, calm and
steadfast, can attain to intellectual perfection; that is, acquire
correct conceptions. Many men are naturally so constituted that all
perfection is impossible; e.g., he whose heart is very warm and is
himself very powerful, is sure to be passionate, though he tries to
counteract that disposition by training; he whose testicles are warm,
humid, and vigorous, and the organs connected therewith are surcharged,
will not easily refrain from sin, even if he makes great efforts to
restrain himself. You also find persons of great levity and rashness,
whose excited manners and wild gestures prove that their constitution
is in disorder, and their temperament so bad that it cannot be cured.
Such persons can never attain to perfection; it is utterly useless to
occupy oneself with them on such a subject [as Metaphysics]. For this
science is, as you know, different from the science of Medicine and of
Geometry, and, from the reason already mentioned, it is not every
person who is capable of approaching it. It is impossible for a man to
study it successfully without moral preparation; he must acquire the
highest degree of uprightness and integrity, “for the froward is an
abomination to the Lord, but His secret is with the righteous” (Prov.
iii. 32). Therefore it was considered inadvisable to teach it to young
men; nay, it is impossible for them to comprehend it, on account of the
heat of their blood and the flame of youth, which confuses their minds;
that heat, which causes all the disorder, must first disappear; they
must have become moderate and settled, humble in their hearts, and
subdued in their temperament; only then will they be able to arrive at
the highest degree of the perception of God, i.e., the study of
Metaphysics, which is called Maʻaseh Mercabah Comp. “The Lord is nigh
unto them that are of a broken heart” (Ps. xxxiv. 18); “I dwell in the
high and lofty place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble
spirit; to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of
the contrite ones” (Isa. lvii. 15).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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