During his tenure as the Corcoran Chair, Dr. Ochs will work on a book project titled "Reasoning for Repair," examining efforts by Jewish and Christian theologians to address moments of crisis in human reasoning: when, for example, thinkers contradict themselves when trying to measure the infinite or comprehend God within the limits of finite reasoning. He will examine Scripture- and tradition-based reasoning as resources for repairing such crises, utilizing insights from quantum science and transcendental reasoning. Dr. Ochs will offer a course on Muslim-Jewish-Christian "Scriptural Reasoning." He will also organize a conference "Reasoning Beyond the Bounds of Clear Thinking" which will explore practices of nonfinite reasoning in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and post-Newtonian science.
Dr. Peter Ochs is the Edgar M. Bronfman Professor of Modern Judaic Studies Professor Emeritus at the University of Virginia. He completed his PhD at Yale University and his MA in Jewish Thought at the Jewish Theological Seminary. His research focuses include Jewish philosophy and theology, Comparative Jewish-Christian-Muslim studies, and Abrahamic "Scriptural Reasoning."
Dr. Ochs remarked, "I anticipate my arrival at Boston College with great joy. In my long career of Christian-Jewish dialogue, this is my first opportunity to work directly with colleagues in Christian and Jewish Studies—on both the practice and theory of how to study scripture across different traditions, and I am eager to meet BC students and explore Abrahamic Scriptural reasoning with them."
Dr. Ochs' first public event will be a webinar presentation outlining his proposed project in September. More details to follow in the coming months.
