By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com Tonight is the 139th Yartzeit of Rav Yisroel Salanter zt”l, founder of the Mussar Movement.  It is unfortunate, however, that many people are not familiar with the writings and Mussar theory of Rav Yisroel. This author would like to suggest that his writings can be understood in contemporary times through the rubric of something called, “Game Theory” – lehavdil. THE MUSSAR THEORY What was Rav Yisroel’s Mussar theory?  He posited that there is an ideal method of behavior specific to each person’s personality, intellect, and capabilities in every life situation.  The pathway in which to arrive at this ideal method is not only to improve some specific character traits, but to train ourselves in three specific areas of knowledge. These three areas of knowledge are called, “Limmud haMussar”, “Chochmas HaMussar”, and “Chinuch haMussar.” Limmud HaMussar is the general background one must have in the field of Mussar study. Chochmas HaMussar is in depth knowledge in these areas. Chinuch HaMussar is the means to employ the knowledge practically when the need for it comes up in life. An analogy to general game theory is instructive here. Contemporary game theory dates back to the year 1944.  There are Nobel Prizes given to those who produce insights in Game Theory.  It is a field applicable to economists, social scientists, and biologists.  It was given its first general mathematical formulation by John von Neuman and Oskar Morgenstern in 1944. It is also useful in understanding the theories of Rabbi Yisroel Salanter in Mussar. Imagine, if you will, the following bizarre but eye-opening analogy: You have been transported to another world or dimension.  In this dimension, you are living in a world of games.  Every person you interact with challenges you with a different type of game.  If you choose not to play – you will not be given access to food and water.  Only people that play get to eat and drink. Winning is also important.  If you lose any game on that day – you will be limited to half-rations.  There are three scenarios to explore. The first person approaches you with a game of tic-tac-toe. He goes first and marks the middle box.  What do you do?  The next person approaches you with the game of Othello.  How should you approach this game? Someone approaches you with a $100 bill that he is auctioning off to the highest bidder. With this auction, however, the runner-up who lost the bid must also pay what he had bid.  You cannot communicate with anyone else participating in the auction.  You have bid $5 already to qualify for your half-rations at least.  The opponent bids $10.  What will you do? Then a football is punted and headed straight toward your head. What do you need? For scenario #1, what you need is Limmud HaMussar, so to speak of the full gamut of games. For Scenario #2, you need Chochmas HaMussar of the depth of how this game in splayed. For Scenario #3, you will need Chinuch HaMussar – of the best strategy to implement it when the sudden need for it arrives. Limud HaMussar is a background in the correct strategy for each possible game you will face.  For example, in tic-tac-toe you can lose unless you respond with taking a […]

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