Refuting the yetzer: The evil inclination and the limits of rabbinic discourse

Ishay Rosen-Zvi*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Rabbinic literature contains several examples of a manner of silencing impious arguments that is usually identified only with later forms of piety, namely, ascribing the arguments to the evil inclination (yetzerhara). Arguments attributed to the yetzer represent serious discursive threats against rabbinic doctrine, marking fundamental problems in both its legal and nonlegal (aggadic) parts. Identifying a question or refutation as belonging to the yetzer automatically invalidates it. By ascribing arguments to the yetzer, the rabbis prevent their audience from actually engaging them, thus marking the limits of rabbinic dialogism.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)117-141
Number of pages25
JournalJournal of Jewish Thought and Philosophy
Volume17
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Oct 2009

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