ABSTRACT
Traditional Judaism maintains that despite the belief in divine providence, human beings have free will. Sin is understood as a transgression of God’s laws, of the Shulhan Arukh. It is conceived as a failing, a lack of perfection in carrying out one’s duty.
A distinction is upheld between foreknowledge and fore-determination; the understanding of ‘free will’ is explored further. Disagreement over what constitutes the sins is highlighted and an argument arises over the claim that all moral judgements are relative. The philosopher’s response is that there are many moral dilemmas, but none the less there are some moral claims that are true – full stop.
