Wisdom and Evil

Andrew Pinsent

doi:10.1017/CBO9781139047395.008

5 - Wisdom and Evil

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 December 2012

Andrew Pinsent

Edited by

Paul Moser and

Michael McFall

Show author details

Paul Moser: Affiliation:
Loyola University, Chicago
Michael McFall: Affiliation:
Bowling Green State University, Ohio

Book contents

Get access

Summary

The Mysteries of Solomon and Dante's Aristotle

“Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem, and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.

(1 Kings 3:12–15, Revised Standard Version [RSV])

The wisdom of King Solomon is described in this text as the greatest of all time. As a philosopher and a poet, Solomon was certainly prolific, uttering 3,000 proverbs and composing 1,005 songs. His philosophical insights ranged across the natural world, including trees, beasts, birds, reptiles, and fish. His defensive fortifications and prudent alliances displayed masterly political skills, securing tranquility and legendary riches for his kingdom. His recorded prayers reveal a profound knowledge of God and deep theological insights, and his name is associated with the great temple he constructed in Jerusalem. People were astounded by his wise judgments, and he received visitors from far-off lands who wished to converse with him. Indeed, so great was Solomon's impact and reputation that much of the wisdom literature of the Old Testament is ascribed to him.

Type: Chapter
Information: The Wisdom of the Christian Faith , pp. 99 - 120

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139047395.008 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aquinas, ThomasThe “Summa Theologica” of St. Thomas Aquinas, literally translated by the Fathers of the English Dominican ProvinceLondonBurns, Oates, and Washbourne Ltd 1911Google Scholar

Baker, Lynne RudderThe Second-Person Account of the Problem of EvilMetaphysics and God: Essays in Honor of Eleonore Stump157New YorkRoutledge 2009Google Scholar

Baron-Cohen, SimonZero Degrees of Empathy: A New Theory of Human CrueltyLondonAllen Lane 2011Google Scholar

Bouchard, Charles ERecovering the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in Moral TheologyTheological Studies 63 2002 539CrossRef Google Scholar

Eilan, NaomiHoerl, ChristophMcCormack, TeresaRoessler, JohannesJoint Attention: Communication and Other Minds: Issues in Philosophy and PsychologyOxfordClarendon Press 2005CrossRef Google Scholar

Eilan, Naomi1 2005

Feingold, LawrenceThe Natural Desire to See God According to St. Thomas and His InterpretersAve Maria, FLSapientia Press of Ave Maria University 2010Google Scholar

Garrigou-Lagrange, RéginaldReality: A Synthesis of Thomistic ThoughtHerder 1950Google Scholar

Hobson, Peter185 2005

John of St. ThomasThe Gifts of the Holy GhostNew YorkSheed and Ward 1951Google Scholar

Kanner, LeoAutistic Disturbances of Affective ContactActa Paedopsychiatrica 35 1968 100Google Scholar PubMed

Kent, BonnieRethinking Moral Dispositions: Scotus on the VirtuesThe Cambridge Companion to Duns ScotusCambridgeCambridge University Press 2003Google Scholar

Kerr, FergusCharity as FriendshipLanguage, Meaning and God: Essays in Honor of Herbert McCabe OPDavies, BrianMcCabe, HerbertG. Chapman 1987Google Scholar

Longfellow, Henry WadsworthThe Divine Comedy of Dante AlighieriLondonG. Routledge 1867Google Scholar

Lottin, , OdonMorale Fondamentale. Vol. 1TournaiDescleé 1954Google Scholar

McGilchrist, IainThe Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western WorldNew HavenYale University Press 2009Google Scholar

Park, Clara ClaiborneThe Siege: The First Eight Years of an Autistic Child (With an Epilogue, Fifteen Years After)Boston, LondonLittle, Brown and Company 1982Google Scholar

Pinckaers, ServaisMorality: The Catholic ViewSouth Bend, INSt. Augustine's Press 2001Google Scholar

Pinckaers, ServaisThe Pinckaers Reader: Renewing Thomistic Moral TheologyWashington, DCCatholic University ofAmerica Press 2005Google Scholar

Pinsent, AndrewThe Gifts and Fruits of the Holy SpiritThe Oxford Handbook of AquinasNew YorkOxford University Press 2012Google Scholar

Pinsent, AndrewThe Second-Person Perspective in Aquinas's Ethics: Virtues and GiftsRoutledge 2012Google Scholar

Porter, Jean 1992 19

Shanley, Brian JDivine Causation and Human Freedom in AquinasAmerican Catholic Philosophical Quarterly 72 1998 99CrossRef Google Scholar

Stump, EleonoreAquinasRoutledge 2003Google Scholar

Stump, EleonoreThe Non-Aristotelian Character of Aquinas's Ethics: Aquinas on the PassionsFaith and Philosophy 28 2011 29CrossRef Google Scholar

Stump, EleonoreWandering in Darkness: Narrative and the Problem of SufferingOxfordClarendon Press 2010CrossRef Google Scholar

Stump, EleonoreWisdom: Will, Belief, and Moral GoodnessAquinas's Moral Theory: Essays in Honor of Norman Kretzmann28Ithaca, NYCornell University Press 1999Google Scholar

Tager-Flusberg, HelenConstraints on Language Acquisition: Studies of Atypical ChildrenHillsdale, NJErlbaum 1994Google Scholar

Tanquerey, AdolpheThe Spiritual Life: A Treatise on Ascetical and Mystical TheologyTournaiDesclée 1930Google Scholar

Thiele, Leslie PaulThe Heart of Judgment: Practical Wisdom, Neuroscience, and NarrativeCambridgeCambridge University Press 2010Google Scholar

Wojtyla, KarolLove and ResponsibilityLondonCollins 1981Google Scholar

Wolter, Allan BernardDuns Scotus on the Will and MoralityWashington, DCCatholic University ofAmerica Press 1986Google Scholar

Longfellow, Henry WadsworthThe Divine Comedy of Dante AlighieriLondonG. Routledge 1867Google Scholar

Aquinas, ThomasThe “Summa Theologica” of St. Thomas Aquinas, literally translated by the Fathers of the English Dominican ProvinceLondonBurns, Oates and Washbourne Ltd 1911Google Scholar

1951

Tanquerey, AdolpheThe Spiritual Life: A Treatise on Ascetical and Mystical TheologyTournaiDesclée 1930 609Google Scholar

Pinckaers, ServaisMorality: The Catholic ViewSouth Bend, INSt. Augustine's Press 2001 87Google Scholar

Porter, Jean 1992 35

Goodness, MoralAquinas's Moral Theory: Essays in Honor of Norman KretzmannCornell University Press 1999 48

Kerr, FergusCharity as FriendshipLanguage, Meaning and God: Essays in Honor of Herbert McCabe OPG. Chapman 1987Google Scholar

Kent, BonnieRethinking Moral Dispositions: Scotus on the VirtuesThe Cambridge Companion to Duns ScotusCambridgeCambridge University Press 2003 354Google Scholar

Wolter, BernardDuns Scotus on the Will and MoralityWashington, DCCatholic University of America Press 1986 237Google Scholar

Pinckaers, ServaisThe Pinckaers Reader: Renewing Thomistic Moral TheologyWashington, DC: Catholic University of America Press 2005 388Google Scholar

Lottin, OdonMorale FondamentaleTournaiDescleé 1954 427Google Scholar

Shanley, Brian JDivine Causation and Human Freedom in AquinasAmerican Catholic Philosophical Quarterly 72 1998 113CrossRef Google Scholar

2003

Garrigou-Lagrange, RéginaldReality: A Synthesis of Thomistic ThoughtHerder 1950Google Scholar

Bouchard, Charles E.Recovering the Gifts of the Holy Spirit in Moral TheologyTheological Studies 63 2002 555CrossRef Google Scholar

Wojtyla, KarolLove and ResponsibilityLondonCollins 1981 28Google Scholar

Stump, EleonoreThe Non-Aristotelian Character of Aquinas's Ethics: Aquinas on the PassionsFaith and Philosophy 28 2011 41CrossRef Google Scholar

Pinsent, AndrewThe Second-Person Perspective in Aquinas's Ethics: Virtues and GiftsRoutledge 2012Google Scholar

McGilchrist, IainThe Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western WorldNew HavenYale University Press 2009 116Google Scholar

Eilan, NaomiJoint Attention: Communication and Other MindsOxfordClarendon Press 2005CrossRef Google Scholar

Park, ClaiborneThe Siege: The First Eight Years of an Autistic Child (With an Epilogue, Fifteen Years After)BostonLittle, Brown and Company 1982 6Google Scholar

Kanner, LeoNervous Child 2 1943

Acta Paedopsychiatrica 35 1968 100

Tager-Flusberg, HelenConstraints on Language Acquisition: Studies of Atypical ChildrenHillsdale, NJ; HoveErlbaum 1994 184Google Scholar

Baron-Cohen, SimonZero Degrees of Empathy: A New Theory of Human CrueltyLondonAllen Lane 2011Google Scholar

Feingold, LawrenceThe Natural Desire to See God According to St. Thomas and His InterpretersAve Maria, FLSapientia Press of Ave Maria University 2010 203Google Scholar

Stump, EleonoreWandering in Darkness: Narrative and the Problem of SufferingOxfordClarendon Press 2010CrossRef Google Scholar

Baker, Lynne RudderThe Second-Person Account of the Problem of EvilMetaphysics and God: Essays in Honor of Eleonore StumpNew YorkRoutledge 2009 157Google Scholar

Thiele, Leslie PaulThe Heart of Judgment: Practical Wisdom, Neuroscience, and NarrativeNew York: Cambridge University Press 2010 283Google Scholar

Pinsent, AndrewThe Gifts and Fruits of the Holy SpiritThe Oxford Handbook of AquinasNew YorkOxford University Press 2012Google Scholar

Book contents

5 - Wisdom and Evil

Summary

Access options

References

Save book to Kindle

Save book to Dropbox

Save book to Google Drive