Fall 2011 Wisdom Course Class Notes C

November 7, 2011 (17)

Wisdom divides into "spaiental, moral, relgious" dimension in religious culture of Judaism.

Cheerfulness --
Contentment -- in marriage, with God
Decisions -- interesting connection decision making chapter in Hall
Diligence -- 20:5 -- compares well with Buddhism, Stoics, Epicureans, q. 235, "The diligent person..."
Friendship -- 237: note integration of vertical and horizontal, 237.
Generosity -- consider some functions of generosity: signalling commitment to group, lack of greed, reciprocity: "in 21:13: "If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered."
Humility --
Kindness --
Parenting -- note emphasis on training
Purity -- Hebrew "heart" (like gen in Chinese Philosophy) - image/source of goodness of motivation
Righteousness --
Truthfulness --

Note the connection and contrast of these themes with some of the other traditions we have looked at.

Divides in four places, at 9.18, 22.16, and 25.1. First 10 books seem like instruction (Estes), later books full of specific proverbs. Note misogyny. Women are temptresses.

Look at Proverb form: from Estes: contrast, enigmatic, compresses, pith, uses analogy, understood to be generalizations.

Wise lead orderly lives in fear of the Lord and they proper because of it.
Attitude of the wise is consistent and cheerful, even in the face of poverty. 15:15-17, also 19:1
Proverbs offer integration of behavioral norms we should hold ourselves to with a vertical and transcendent moral order.
Situations in which we should check our responses
Issues of trust and association (important for our inquiry in this part of the course)
Flouring
Mind, speech, and action
Recall one's attention to the Lord (to vertical relationships)