Reply To: How does Halachah work?

The Gemara says that one who follows the Chumros of all opinions is a fool and the Kulos of all opinions is a Rasha. You find a Rov and follow him. How does he determine Halachah? Everyone has their own Derech, but almost all are based off of learning the Gemara with the Rishonim and seeing what fits best (while obviously taking the later Poskim’s understanding of the Gemara and Rishonim into consideration). The general assumption nowadays (and since the 1500s), however, is that what “fits best” for Halachah Lema’aseh terms was already decided by the Shulchan Aruch/Ramah, though of course everyone has their exceptions.