Abstract
This essay seeks to consider the implications of the prophetic voice of Abraham Joshua Heschel. We argue that Heschel’s work offers important correctives to some of modern psychologies’ universalizing and reductive assumptions and activities. Specifically, we show that Heschel argues for an anthropology characterized by particularity, with a unique emphasis on the person’s standing in relation to God. Relatedly, we show how Heschel’s understanding challenges us to recognize that ethics is to precede ontology. Lastly, this primacy of ethics leads to a prophetic challenge toward becoming people of peace, systemically as well as individually. We conclude by applying Heschel’s admonishment to recent, specific activities of injustice and violence within the field of psychology. Heschel’s arguments are reviewed in a spirit of ecumenism, to pursue the ends of peace as a profession and as a society.
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Notes
As the focus of this paper, A. J. Heschel will be referred to simply as “Heschel.” When references are made to Susannah Heschel, A. J. Heschel’s daughter, she will be identified as “S. Heschel.”
This essay is adapted from an address given at Honoring Heschel at 100: An International Conference, Baylor University, Waco, TX, November 1-2, 2007. Note: Heschel’s use of masculine language has not been edited.
Who is Man comprises lectures delivered at Stanford University, the first author’s alma mater, on May 5, 7, and 8, 1963 as the Raymond Fred West Memorial lectures. The brochure states: “The Raymond Fred West Memorial Lectures on Immortality, Human Conduct, and Human Destiny were established to provide opportunities for persons ‘of the highest personal character and of superior intellectual endowment’ to present lectures on ‘some phase of the subject, Immortality, Human Conduct, and Human Destiny.’ Funds to support the lectures were donated in 1909 by the family of Raymond Fred West, who died before completing his studies at Stanford University.” The program for his lectures indicates they were all given in Dinkelspiel Auditorium, and dedicated to his daughter. Previous and subsequent lecturers in this series included John Dewey, Julian Huxley, Carl Becker, Reinhold Niebuhr, John A. T. Robinson and Rev. Hans Kueng. The Stanford psychology department at the time of the lectures included: Robert Richardson Sears, Alex Bavelas, Arthur Coladarci, Paul Farnsworth, Leon Festinger, Thomas Willard Harrell, Ernest Hilgard, Douglas Lawrence, Henry McDaniel, Quinn McNemar, Albert Bandura, Edith Mary Dowley, Eleanor E. Maccoby, Karl H. Pribram, Clarence Leland Winder, Gordon H. Bower, Leonard M. Horowitz, Frederick McDonald, Lucy Rau, Robert D. Singer, Andre Weitzenhoffer, and Jerry S. Wiggins.
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Dueck, A.C., Langdal, J.P., Goodman, D.M. et al. Prophetic Words for Psychologists: Particularity, Ethics and Peace. Pastoral Psychol 58, 289–301 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-008-0183-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-008-0183-5