Reading Ecclesiastes

• Authors: Eilstein H.
• Languages of publication: PL

Abstracts

EN

The concept of God presented in the book of Ecclesiastes evinces the influence of philosophical thought coming from beyond the Biblical tradition. It is very different form the concept of God that prevails in other Biblical works. Although the author known as 'Ecclesiastes' does not deny the existence of God as the creator of the world nor does he question God's sovereign power to determine the course of events in it, he rejects the concept of divine justice that could be understandable to humans. He refutes the idea that the worthy will be rewarded and the wicked will be punished. Ecclesiastes seems to argue that from the human point of view it is irrelevant whether God exists or does not, and, in case God exists, it does not matter whether he is the sovereign ruler over the universe or whether he has submitted the universe to the play of chance. In the face of these uncertainties Ecclesiastes's advice to humans is that they adopt the position of 'pessimistic hedonism' that consists in trying, as far as possible, to enjoy the temporally available sensuous pleasures of life. It might appear that the idea of such divine indifference, or insouciance, brings the position of the religious existential philosophy closer to atheism. But the authoress does not aim at any such conclusion. Instead she puts forward the view that atheism by no means invites a feelings of senselessness or passive resignation in sadly tinged pleasures but urges individuals to give purpose to their lives and to strive to accomplish various moral values and personal aspirations. Thus atheism has nothing to do with any form of pessimism that results in a 'hedonism of despair'.

Keywords

EN

ATHEISM; DEUS ABSCONDITUS; ECCLESIASTES; HEDONISM; PESSIMISM

Discipline

• PHILOSOPHY: PHILOSOPHY

• Publisher: Polska Akademia Nauk
• Journal: Przegląd Filozoficzny. Nowa Seria
• Year: 2005
• Volume: 14
• Issue: 1(53)
• Pages: 7-26
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Eilstein H.

• H. Eilstein, ul. Korotynskiego 28 m. 91, 02-123 Warszawa, Poland

Identifiers

CEJSH db identifier

05PLAAAA0032778