Middlebury

JWST 0388

Job and the Problem with Evil

The Book of Job and the Problem of Evil
Why do the innocent suffer? The Book of Job asked this question millennia ago, giving not an explicit answer, but at least a response. Framed by a prose tale on the patient Job, the book is mainly a debate in poetry between an impatient Job and his “friends” that has continued to our day, in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic thought, and in philosophy. We will study the debate on the meaning of Job in philosophy and religion through the works of Maimonides, Kant, Hume, Voltaire, William Blake, Jung, and others. Familiarity with Biblical studies or philosophy of religion is helpful, but not required. 3 hrs. sem.
Subject:
Jewish Studies
Department:
Jewish Studies
Division:
Interdisciplinary
Requirements Fulfilled:
PHL
Equivalent Courses:
FYSE 1384 *
RELI 0388 *

Sections in Spring 2022

Spring 2022

JWST0388A-S22 Seminar (Schine)