Chovos Halvavos asks a fundamental question: Are we actually obligated to study Hashem's creations and contemplate His wisdom? Rabbeinu Bachya begins proving this obligation through logic, the Torah, and Chazal. Hashem gave human beings something that distinguishes us from the animals — seichel, the ability to think, investigate, and recognize the wisdom of our Creator.

But what happens when we fail to use that gift? The Navi tells us that an ox knows its owner and a donkey recognizes its master, while mankind often fails to recognize Hashem. We discover why neglecting to contemplate creation can leave a person worse off than an animal — and why using our minds to recognize Hashem is one of our most basic obligations.