Wisdom in Classical and Biblical Tradition

The roots of modern culture lie in ancient soil. On this fertile ground grew a two-sided tradition, a dialectical relation between the legacies of ancient Greek civilization on the one hand and theological perspectives based on the Jewish and Christian scriptures on the other. Later periods—the late antique, medieval, and early modern—attest to the fact that, despite essential differences, Greek philosophy and biblical interpretation formed a lasting cultural synthesis. Part of what made this synthesis possible was a shared outlook, a common aspiration toward wholeness of understanding that refused to separate knowledge from goodness, virtue from happiness, cosmos from polis, divine authority from human responsibility. As that which names this wholeness, wisdom features prominently in both classical and biblical literatures as an ultimate good. In its traditional form, wisdom was understood to govern a variety of endeavors. It was a program for human flourishing that accorded with a holistic understanding of reality in its metaphysical, cosmic, political, and personal dimensions. This book explores wisdom and the way it was presented in seminal works: in Greek texts, such as the epics of Homer and the writings of Plato and Aristotle, and in biblical books as well, including Genesis, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Job, Wisdom of Solomon, the Gospels, and the letters of Paul. In doing so, it aims to illuminate the modern legacy of classical and biblical tradition and its distinctive pursuit of wisdom. Wisdom In Classical And Biblical Tradition Begins With The Recognition That Modern Culture Emerged From A Synthesis Of The Legacies Of Ancient Greek Civilization And The Theological Perspectives Of Jewish And Christian Scriptures. Part Of What Made This Synthesis Possible Was A Shared Outlook: A Common Aspiration Toward Wholeness Of Understanding That Refused To Separate Knowledge From Goodness, Virtue From Happiness, Cosmos From Polis, And Divine Authority From Human Responsibility. This Wholeness Of Understanding, Or Wisdom, Features Prominently In Both Classical And Biblical Literatures As An Ultimate Good. Wisdom In Classical And Biblical Tradition Has Two Central Aims. The First Is To Explain In Formal Terms What Wisdom Is. Though Wisdom Involves Matters Of Practical Judgment Affecting The Life Of The Individual And The Social Sphere, It Has Also Been Identified With An Understanding Of The World And Of The Ultimate Realities That Give Meaning To Human Thought And Action. Michael Legaspi Explains How, In Its Traditional Form, Wisdom Was Understood To Govern Intellectual, Social, And Ethical Endeavors. Legaspi's Second Aim Is To Analyze Figures And Texts That Have Yielded And Shaped The Traditional Understanding Of Wisdom. This Book Examines Accounts Of Wisdom From Foundational Texts That Range From The Period Of Homer To The Destruction Of The Second Temple, And Explains Why The Search For Wisdom Remains An Important But Problematic Endeavor Today-- Homer And The Wisdom Of The Hero -- Wisdom And Knowledge In The Hebrew Bible -- Job The True Sage -- Piety And Wisdom In Socrates -- A Nation Of Philosophers -- The School Of Solomon -- An End To Wisdom. Michael C. Legaspi. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Wisdom in classical and biblical tradition" begins with the recognition that modern culture emerged from a synthesis of the legacies of ancient Greek civilization and the theological perspectives of Jewish and Christian scriptures. Part of what made this synthesis possible was a shared outlook: a common aspiration toward wholeness of understanding that refused to separate knowledge from goodness, virtue from happiness, cosmos from polis, and divine authority from human responsibility. This wholeness of understanding, or wisdom, features prominently in both classical and biblical literatures as an ultimate good. "Wisdom in classical and biblical tradition" has two central aims. The first is to explain in formal terms what wisdom is. Though wisdom involves matters of practical judgment affecting the life of the individual and the social sphere, it has also been identified with an understanding of the world and of the ultimate realities that give meaning to human thought and action. Michael Legaspi explains how, in its traditional form, wisdom was understood to govern intellectual, social, and ethical endeavors. Legaspi's second aim is to analyze figures and texts that have yielded and shaped the traditional understanding of wisdom. This book examines accounts of wisdom from foundational texts that range from the period of Homer to the destruction of the Second Temple, and explains why the search for wisdom remains an important but problematic endeavor today -- Provided by publisher Wisdom in Classical and Biblical Tradition begins with the recognition that modern culture emerged from a synthesis of the legacies of ancient Greek civilization and the theological perspectives of the Jewish and Christian scriptures. Part of what made this synthesis possible was a shared outlook: a common aspiration toward wholeness of understanding that refused to separate knowledge from goodness, virtue from happiness, cosmos from polis , and divine authority from human responsibility. This wholeness of understanding, or wisdom, featured prominently in both classical and biblical literatures as an ultimate good. Michael Legaspi has two central aims. The first is to explain in formal terms what wisdom is. Though wisdom involves matters of practical judgment affecting the life of the individual and the community, it has also been identified with an understanding of the world and of the ultimate realities that give meaning to human thought and action. In its traditional form, wisdom was understood to govern intellectual, social, and ethical endeavors. His second aim is to analyze figures and texts that have yielded and shaped the traditional understanding of wisdom. The book examines accounts of wisdom within foundational texts that range from the period of Homer to the destruction of the Second Temple. In doing so, it explains why the search for wisdom remains an important but problematic endeavor today.