General Rules as Reasons for Norms in Mishnaic Discourse: A Brief Survey

Abstract

This paper attempts to describe, through the analysis of a number of cases, the value (or not) of “general rules” as “reasons” for norm in Mishnaic discourse. This will be done by means of a literary analysis aimed at pointing out both formal and functional traits of “general rules”, and at considering their value either as mere generalizations or as explanations.