Poetic Ethics in Proverbs
Wisdom Literature and the Shaping of the Moral Self

This study explores the sophisticated understanding of the formation of the moral self that emerges in the poetry of Proverbs.

Anne W. Stewart (Author)

9781107119420, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 1 December 2015

260 pages
23.6 x 15.8 x 1.9 cm, 0.49 kg

'Throughout, the discussion is well-rooted not only in the regular debates and literature of biblical scholarship, but also in the debates and literature of moral philosophy as well as of the general study of literature. A recurrent emphasis is the limitations of those treatments of Proverbs that see the book as essentially a collection of simplistic and/or dogmatic perspectives; [Stewart] argues that this fails to do justice to the sophisticated understanding of the complexities of the human person and human motivations that she finds to be consistently present … This is one of the best books on Proverbs that I have read.' Walter Moberly, Journal for the Study of the Old Testament

The Book of Proverbs' frequent use of binary oppositions - righteous and wicked, wise and foolish - has led many to assume that its vision of the moral world is relatively simplistic. This study demonstrates that Proverbs in fact presents a remarkably sophisticated response to ethical questions of profound concern to the Israelite sages who crafted the book: what motivates human beings? How do they learn? How does the power of desire shape human characters? Anne W. Stewart analyzes Proverbs' multifaceted collection of images and metaphors to reveal their complex understanding of the development of the moral self, which suggests that character formation requires educating all of the senses and not simply the cognitive faculties. One of few works to make explicit connections between the poetic form of Proverbs and its pedagogical function, Poetic Ethics in Proverbs will appeal to all those interested in literary approaches to the Bible.

1. Poetry, pedagogy, and ethos
Part I. Character and Poetry: 2. Character ethics and the shaping of the self
3. Form criticism and the way of poetry in Proverbs
Part II. Models of Mûs?r: 4. The model of rebuke
5. The model of motivation
6. The model of desire
7. The model of imagination
Part III. Narrative, Poetry, and Personhood: 8. Narrative, poetry, and personhood.

Subject Areas: Biblical studies & exegesis [HRCG]