A comprehensive philosophical approach to Qohelet’s epistemology

Jaco Gericke

doi:10.4102/hts.v71i1.2868

Abstract

An increasing number of studies have seen the light over the last few decades concerning the epistemology of the book of Ecclesiastes. The extant research seems to be limited to try to find a suitable philosophical profile for Qohelet’s concept of knowledge whilst ignoring a whole array of topics and theories in contemporary analytic epistemology. The available research thus reveals an ‘inside-out’ approach that is, reading Qohelet and then seeking to link his thought to a particular epistemological stance. In this study, however, an ‘outside-in’ approach is opted for that involves noting all the various issues in epistemology and then comparing each with what, if anything, Qohelet assumed in relation to the specific matter at hand.

Highlights

Research on the epistemology of Qohelet has become an increasingly popular sub-theme in Ecclesiastes studies
Whilst a number of studies have seen the light concerning the epistemology of the book of Ecclesiastes during the last few decades, the available research has consistently adopted an ‘inside-out’ approach that is, reading Qohelet’s words about knowledge and seeking to link his thoughts on the matter to a particular epistemological stance
An ‘outside-in’ approach was opted for that involved noting all the various issues in http://www.hts.org.za epistemology and comparing each with what, if anything, Qohelet assumed in relation to the specific matter at hand

Summary

Introduction

Research on the epistemology of Qohelet has become an increasingly popular sub-theme in Ecclesiastes studies (see Schellenberg 2002:35–73; cf. Sneed 2012:13–20). These include the extent to which Qohelet is supposed to believe in the autonomy of the human subject; what he considers to be the sources, scope and limits of knowledge; what the methods and objects of the quest for knowledge are as well as the book’s assumptions about the ontological status of knowledge claims. The aim of such a study would not be to see how Qohelet can contribute to contemporary epistemological theorising but rather how the latter can elucidate the former This means that all the various epistemological themes and theories can be put on the table and, in the manner of comparative philosophy, the exegete can enquire as to if and how Qohelet’s assumptions about knowledge can be related to – and agree or differ from – the particular philosophical topic. As the study of Qohelet’s assumptions about justified belief, the study of Qohelet’s epistemology means that the following additional basic questions arise: 1. What folk-epistemological assumptions in Qohelet relate to the concept of justification?

Was justification assumed by Qohelet to be internal or external to the mind?

Conclusion