From Philosophical Theories to Phenomenological Description

Leveraging the resources of the Western tradition, some scholars appeal to certain philosophical theories as heuristic guides to discern the latent epistemology of the book of Proverbs. Among them, empiricism and the coherence theory of truth serve as useful analogies for the presumed epistemology instantiated in Proverbs 10:1-22:16. In the light of the limitations of these theories, this essay explores the contributions of phenomenological description for discerning the epistemological contours of Proverbs 10:1-22:16. These contours reveal layers of coherence across Proverbs 10:1-22:16, suggesting that its sayings constitute a composition, not a collection.