Knowledge and the Cathartic Value of Repentance
An austere form of legalism lies at the heart of Judaism. Apart from a limited set of exceptions, every adult Jew is required to observe the full gamut of relevant biblical and rabbinic laws. Success in this endeavor is handsomely rewarded and failure severely punished. Despite the apparent bleakness of this legalism, the system licenses a divine pardon in cases where the offending individual repents. This chapter opens with a discussion of this clemency, as understood by Moses Maimonides, before moving on to a reading of a Talmudic debate that introduces an epistemic puzzle regarding repentance. With the epistemic contours of repentance thus exposed, the remainder of the chapter deals with the manner in which Timothy Williamson’s work on knowledge can undermine the cathartic value of repentance. The chapter concludes with a short note marking the implications for Christianity and Islam.