The Ethical Symbol

If revelation is synonymous with ethical knowledge, §then what of the the manner in which it is relayed? §History proves repeatedly, in accounts of oppression §and violence that authoritative claims on the meaning§of revelation can be dangerously exclusive. To be§truly ethical,the very language of ethics must§undergo a conceptual shift, from ownership of§knowledge to an admittedly partial participation in§it. Such a shift, the author suggests, is achieved§through symbolic awareness, wherein reconciliation§between limited and ultimate knowledge is reached. §In this work, the author underscores the parallels§between symbol, philosophy of ethics, language, and§revelation,and shows that the abandonment of previous§models of ethical knowledge need not produce a crisis§of meaning. Instead, she demonstrates the ethical§structure that is at the very heart of revelation and§language. Rooted in theology and philosophy, this§book spans across topics such as inter-faith§dialogue, biblical scholarship, hermeneutics and§linguistics. But beyond these, it deals with§education at large, as it suggests a methodology for§ethical instruction, particularly that which uses the§bible as its source.