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Abraham, Isaac, and the toxin: a Kavkan reading of the binding of Isaac

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 August 2022

Christopher Willard-Kyle Open the ORCID record for Christopher Willard-Kyle [Opens in a new window]
Christopher Willard-Kyle*
Affiliation:
Subject of Philosophy, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8LP, UK
*
Email: christopher.willard-kyle@glasgow.ac.uk
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Abstract

I argue that the story of God's commanding Abraham to sacrifice Isaac can be read as a variant of Kavka's (1983) Toxin Puzzle. On this reading, Abraham has no reason to kill Isaac, only reason to intend to kill Isaac. On one version of the Kavkan reading, it's impossible for Abraham, thus situated, to form the intention to kill Isaac. This would make the binding an impossible story: I explore the ethical and theological consequences of reading the story in this way. Finally, I suggest that analytic philosophers may have more to contribute to interpretative projects in philosophical theology than generally practised.

Keywords

The toxin puzzleAbrahamthe binding of Isaacfaith
Type
Original Article
Information
Religious Studies , Volume 59 , Issue 4 , December 2023 , pp. 618 - 634
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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