An authorship determines a principle of the proof of proposition, allowing the demonstration, in detail, that things are one way, rather than some other, accord with one law, rather than another.… It is the argument of Sifra's authorship that without the revelation of the Torah, we are not able to effect any classification at all, we are left, that is to say, only with species, but no genus, only with cases, but no rules

The Importance of Classification in the System of the Mishnah

The system of philosophy expressed through concrete and detailed law presented by the Mishnah consists of a coherent logic and topic, a cogent world view, and comprehensive way of living. It is a world view that speaks of transcendent things, a way of life in response to the supernatural meaning of what is done, a heightened and deepened perception of the sanctification of Israel in deed and in deliberation. That paramount concern accounts for the centrality of classification, the appeal of the logic of hierarchical classification in the demonstration of comparisons and contrasts, and in the formation of the thought of the document. For sanctification in the Mishnah's system means establishing the stability, order, regularity, predictability, and reliability of Israel in the world of nature and supernature particularly at moments and in contexts of danger. It is through assigning to all things their rightful name, setting of all things in their proper position, that we discover the laws of stability, order, regularity, and predictability.