Life Beyond the Sun: Worldview and Philosophy Through the Lens of Ecclesiastes, by Dr. Christopher Cone, provides a comprehensive Christian introduction to philosophy.
In the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon offers a vibrantly insightful perspective on the world and life in it. He examines succinctly the futility, the emptiness, and the hopelessness of life under the sun – life apart from God. At the same time, he suggests the wonder and value of even the simplest act when performed with God and for His glory. Life Beyond the Sun considers Solomon’s worldview and discusses how Solomon seems to anticipate and respond to philosophies that came after him. Life Beyond the Sun supplies a generous amount of parallels from philosophers through the ages for comparison, and addresses epistemology, metaphysics, ethics, social political philosophies, environmental ethics, the is/ought problem, the existence of God, the problem of evil, definitions of good and foundations of morality, and ultimate meaning in life.
Preface
This is perhaps a very odd sort of book. It is part introduction to Ecclesiastes and part introduction to philosophy – and perhaps a clumsy handling of the two at that. I beg the reader to grant me a charitable reading, as the intention here is not a detailed exegesis of the Book of Ecclesiastes, nor is it a thorough introduction to philosophy. The goal here is very simply to examine the Biblical worldview as broadly stated by Solomon. Consideration for the longstanding truth of his analysis will be given as I have taken some pains to address certain historical parallels to aspects of vain endeavor that Solomon decries. It is as if Solomon anticipates the worldly philosophies that would come after him. Certainly their seeds were planted long before his day, but I find it quite remarkable how directly his criticisms of godless endeavor can be applied to many great and historical pursuits. Thus I have sought to connect some of the ancient as well as more recent philosophical systems to those elements that Solomon condemns as without value.
While there must certainly be exegetical elements here, the text is handled here in a rather introductory manner – if the commentary here stood alone perhaps it could serve as a worthy introduction and overview of the book, like as one might expect from an Old Testament survey or introduction. Likewise, while there is some degree of systematic handling of the philosophical issues, I expect if these writings (the philosophical parts: the introductions, the essays, and the primary source excerpts) stood alone, they might only scratch the surface of what a worthy introduction to philosophy would attempt. But it is my hope that these two elements brought together will provide for the reader the following results:
- (1) a very clear understanding of the universal vanity of any and all endeavor pursued outside of a right relationship to and perspective of God. The philosophical bits of this present work are intended to illustrate this quite distinctly.
- (2) A very clear understanding of the tremendous value even in the most ordinary tasks of life (eating, drinking, labor, etc.) when they are pursued within the context of a right relationship to and perspective of God.
In short, I want to demonstrate Solomon’s project by historical, if only very limited, example. Such a demonstration is intended as an aid for studying Ecclesiastes and as introduction to significant concepts of philosophy and worldview.
Also, I felt it appropriate that the entire text of Ecclesiastes be represented here, and for copyright reasons I have chosen to use the KJV primarily with complementary references to the NASB along with my own occasional translation. But I must also exhort the reader that study in the original languages is a must. Biblical exegesis can scarcely be accomplished in the English text alone, so the reader will observe an emphasis on key Hebrew words, syntax, and grammar from time to time. I hope that emphasis helps to increase your appreciation for Biblical Hebrew and might perhaps provide some impetus for your further study in this regard. I pray you enjoy the journey.
Table of Contents
Introduction…………………………………………………………1
1:1-11 Vanity: Life Under the Sun……………………………….5
– Philosophical Parallel: Empiricism and Moral Sentiment
– Primary Source Excerpt: Hume: Enquiry on Human Understanding – Primary Source Excerpt: Hume: A Treatise of Human Nature
– Philosophical Parallel: Existentialism
– Primary Source Excerpt: Nietzsche: The Madman
1:12-18 Vanity: The “Under the Sun” Quest for Wisdom…..29
– Excursus: The Rise of Philosophy and Conflict with Theology – Philosophical Parallel: Basic Elements of Philosophy
– Primary Source Excerpt: Plato: The Euthyphro
2:1-11 Vanity: Good and Enjoyment Under the Sun……….70
– Philosophical Parallel: Virtue Ethics
– Primary Source Excerpt: Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics
2:12-17 Vanity: Wisdom, Madness, and Folly Under the Sun………………………………………………………………..117
- – Philosophical Parallel: Epistemological Grounding
(Platonic Dualism, Cartesian Rationalism, Kantian Structuralism)
- – Primary Source Excerpt: Plato: Allegory of the Cave
- – Excursus: On Descartes’ Discourse on the Method
- – Primary Source Excerpt: Descartes: Meditation II
- – Primary Source Excerpt: Kant: Critique of Pure Reason
2:18-23 Vanity: Labor and Consequence Under the Sun…161
– Philosophical Parallel: Utilitarianism
– Primary Source Excerpt: Bentham: An Introduction to the Principles ofMorals and Legislation
2:24-26 Conclusion: God Is………………………………………..171
- – Philosophical Parallel: The Existence of God (culminating with Presuppositional Epistemology)
- – Primary Source Excerpt: Anselm: Proslogion
- – Primary Source Excerpt: Aquinas: The Five Ways
- – Primary Source Excerpt: Russell: Why I Am Not a Christian
3:1-10 Conclusion: God Has Ordered the Universe…………….203
– Excursus: The Philosophical and Theological Compatibility of Mechanistic Evolution and an Ordered Universe
3:11-22 Conclusion: God Has a “Beyond the Sun” Program
For Man………………………………………………………………………….219 – Excursus: Environmental Ethics: The Spirit of Man and Intrinsic Value4:1-3 Vanity: Life and Oppression Under the Sun……………..237
– Philosophical Parallel: Marxism
– Primary Source Excerpt: Marx and Engels: A Communist Manifesto – Excursus: Introductory Survey of the Problem of Evil4:4-6 Vanity: Survival and Rivalry Under the Sun…………..287
– Philosophical Parallel: Social Contract
– Primary Source Excerpt: Hobbes: The Leviathan4:7-12 Vanity: Egocentrism and Aloneness Under the Sun…299
– Philosophical Parallel: Ethical Egoism
4:13-16 Vanity: Foolishness Under the Sun…………………….301
– Philosophical Parallel: Will to Power
– Excursus: On the Will to Power: Nietzsche’s Pedigree
5:1-20 Conclusion: Fear God and Enjoy His Gifts……………..315
– Philosophical Parallel: Consensual Democracy
– Primary Source Excerpt: Locke: The Second Treatise on Civil Government
6:1-12 Vanity: Riches, Wealth, and Honor Under the Sun….329
– Excursus: Postmodernism and Globalism
7:1-8:17 Conclusion: Well-Being Comes Through “Beyond the Sun” Perspective……………………………………………………347 – Philosophical Parallel: Piety and Moral Theory of Obligation
– Primary Source Excerpt: Kant: Fundamental Principles of the Metaphysics of Morals
9:1-10 Conclusion: The Urgency of Life Under the Sun……..379
9:11-10:19 Conclusion: The Apparatus for Life Under the Sun: Wisdom >Strength…………………………………………………383 – Philosophical Parallel: Platonic Aristocracy
10:20-11:8 Conclusion: Apply Wisdom Under the Sun………391
11:9-10 Conclusion: Enjoy Life with A “Beyond the Sun” Perspective………………………………………………………….395 – Excursus: Lucretian Atomism
12:1-7 Conclusion: Remember Your Creator………………….399
– Excursus: Contrasting Hume’s Naturalistic Viewpoint with Calvin’s Innate Awareness of Deity
12:8-14 Conclusion: Life with God Is Not Vanity…………….415
– Excursus: The Commandments Of Jesus: The Ethics of the Gospels
Notes and Bibliography…………………………………………..443
