This shiur was generously sponsored by an anonymous donor for the merit of the speedy, safe and healthy return of the Hostages. The source sheet for this shiur is available here. Highlights 0:30 Overview of chapters 3-4 of Shemona Perakim 9:00 Contradictions in Maimonides' view regarding extremism 15:00 The view of R' Avraham son of Maimonides on the virtue of ascetism and extremism 17:30 Why law is necessary; man is a political animal 24:30 Extreme cruelty is not inherently wrong for an individual; it only hinders him from living in society 27:15 Are character traits natural or are they learned behaviors? 30:00 Ethics as politics 37:15 The need for political thinking and why it fell out of style 40:15 The Torah is for the whole nation, not for special individuals 43:00 Why the prophets didn't practice celibacy 46:30 Torah law engenders uniformity, and therefore any destabilizing, extreme behavior must be kept hidden 52:15 Moderation as the key to the redemption This series is a project of the Jacob Lights Foundation.