Eiruvin 47a, b

Today's daf continues the rabbi's conversation about the principles of halachic decision-making.  We are provided with a number of scenarios.  Each circumstance offers an opportunity for the rabbis to debate the proper ruling, sometimes followed by a declaration: "the halacha is in accordance with Rabbi ___".  We then learn about why that final statement might have been necessary, since we are already supposed to know which rabbi's opinions are followed.

Post-modern thinkers assume the end of 'traditional' rules.  Those rules are understood, and discussed, and referenced in a new, twisted version of themselves.  We think that we are smart, or special, or further ahead -- "post" modern -- because we are so insightful and creative in our thinking.  The past two dapim suggest that the rabbis were "post-" themselves.  They were well aware of the rules as they were creating that system of thought.  They played with those rules and challenged themselves on the validity of their methods.

Of course, the rabbis are not post-modernists.  In antiquity it is a given that G-d exists.  The unchanging socially defined roles of women, children, men, people with disabilities, and people understood as 'slaves' was absolute and determinative.  I would not suggest that we are in the same philosophical location as our Sages.  At the same time, it is possible that we are not as far removed from their systems of thought than we would like to believe.  

We pride ourselves on our communal ability to create a system of justice, for example.  We learn rules and policies very early in our lives, and those ideas of 'how the world works' stick in our minds. Yet we understand that this system is created on a somewhat unsteady foundation.  On occasion, we will bend or break our own rules in order to better reflect the needs of our community.  

The rabbis make similar efforts. These dapim focus on how the structure of authority works and why it works in that way.  To write that exploration into the Talmud would suggest a deep confidence in the process they are creating.  Even now, we think of 'focusing on process rather than just on the product' as forward thinking.  Our rabbis have much to teach us about these ideas... when thinking about this connection, 2000 years seems like very recent history.