Da'at Torah - Religious Imperative or Good Advice, Part 1

Different people have different instincts. Some buck authority even in those instances where it is clearly justified. Others seek out authority figures to relieve them of the responsibility of choice and its consequences. To understand the concept of da'at Torah - when it is proper or even obligatory to seek out and follow the advice and rulings of Torah scholars - we must first define the scope of questions and concerns that relate to Torah such that we would accept the authority of a Torah scholar, and we must determine who the personages of Torah are. Moreover, to grasp this imperative's character, we need to understand what sources it is based on.