Axiological assumptions in Qohelet: A historical-philosophical clarification

Jaco W Gericke

doi:10.4102/ve.v33i1.515

Abstract

The article has as its working hypothesis the proposal that the Book of Ecclesiastes has axiology as its main concern. All interest in reality, knowledge and morality can be interpreted as being subsumed under the primary obsession, which is value (and the lack thereof). In support of this theory the article ventures a brief descriptive philosophical elucidation of Qoheleth�s folk-axiological assumptions by way of a clarification of his ideas about goodness against the backdrop of various categories in value theory. The study concludes with the suggestion that perhaps the central claim of the book should also be understood as an axiological rather than as an epistemological or existential claim. Qoheleth�s problem is not meaninglessness or incomprehension but worthlessness.

Highlights

The Book of Qohelet is the closest the Old Testament comes to approximate philosophical literature
Readings of the book from a philosophical perspective have suggested that Qohelet was concerned with existentialist issues and epistemological matters
In this article a rather different philosophical take on the book’s main thesis is offered. It involves reading Qohelet in the context of value theory, which encompasses a range of approaches to understanding how, why, and to what degree humans do and should value things, whether the object of value is a person, idea, or anything else

Summary

Introduction

The Book of Qohelet (or Ecclesiastes) is the closest the Old Testament comes to approximate philosophical literature. If these assumptions are justified it means that underlying Qohelet’s discourse is a folk-axiology (and theory of value) that can be made explicit via philosophical commentary. Applying axiological theory proper (following the outline by Schroeder 2008), it is possible to identify four grammatical forms in the value (x = good) claims of the book.

Results

Conclusion