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What is 'derech lo tovah' that requires tochachah according to the Rambam (רמב"ם), if it's not an outright sin? The shiur develops that free will operates through an internal feedback system where mitzvos produce genuine good feelings and aveiros create emptiness. Derech lo tovah refers to artificial shortcuts that provide false highs without doing good, corrupting our spiritual perception and removing motivation for authentic Torah (תורה) living.
Rabbi Zweig addresses a fundamental question about the mitzvah (מצוה) of hocheach tocheach (giving rebuke) based on the Rambam (רמב"ם) in Hilchos De'os. The Rambam states that one must give tochachah not only when someone commits an aveirah (transgression) but also when they walk in a 'derech lo tovah' (a path that's not good). This raises the question: what exactly is derech lo tovah if it's not an outright sin? To answer this, Rabbi Zweig examines the Rambam's discussion of free will in Hilchos Teshuvah, where the Rambam brings the pasuk about Adam after eating from the Tree of Knowledge: 'Hein ha'adam hayah k'echad mimenu lada'at tov v'ra' (Behold, man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil). The Rambam uses this to prove that humans have bechirah (free will), but then mentions God's concern about Adam eating from the Tree of Life.
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Hilchos De'os 6:7, Hilchos Teshuvah 6:1
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