Contracts and Care of Oneself in the Book of Ruth
This essay utilizes Foucault’s concept of the “technology of the self” to argue the ethical content of Ruth’s actions. In this way, my essay challenges reading the book of Ruth in a way that supports the Western and Christian technology of self and moral principle of self-sacrifice. Paying careful a...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Brill
[2020]
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| In: |
Horizons in biblical theology
Year: 2020, Volume: 42, Issue: 1, Pages: 14-46 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Ruth
/ Ruth Biblical character
/ Self-care
/ Oath
/ Contract
/ Self-sacrifice
/ Foucault, Michel 1926-1984
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| IxTheo Classification: | HB Old Testament NCB Personal ethics |
| Further subjects: | B
Ruth
B care of oneself B Oath B Michel Foucault B technology of self B Self-sacrifice B Contracts |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | This essay utilizes Foucault’s concept of the “technology of the self” to argue the ethical content of Ruth’s actions. In this way, my essay challenges reading the book of Ruth in a way that supports the Western and Christian technology of self and moral principle of self-sacrifice. Paying careful attention to the three episodes of contract-making in the book of Ruth (1:16-17, 3:9-13, 4:1-12), it is evident that Ruth’s actions demonstrate profound resourcefulness and care of oneself rather than self-sacrifice. This hermeneutical lens of “care of oneself” is constituted in the three elements of immanence, vigilant introspection and distance. The character of Ruth possesses the virtue of חֶ֔סֶד, repeatedly and secretly transgresses norms and expectations and creates an ethic that benefits and transforms her self and others. |
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| ISSN: | 1871-2207 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Horizons in biblical theology
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1163/18712207-12341401 |