TheoRhēma (Jul 2021)
Image and Degradation as a Philosophy of History in Daniel 2
Abstract
Various interpretations were proffered for Nebuchadnezzar's dream of Daniel 2. The discussion has revolved around the possible historical kingdoms and their succession, but not enough attention has been paid to the statue itself and its unusual composition of metals. In this interdisciplinary article, I propose that the statue of Daniel 2 reflects a philosophy of history, revealing the moral degradation of humanity. Using some philosophical reflections of Emmanuel Levinas as a springboard, I focus on three aspects of the text. First, I explore the literary features and the key ideas of Daniel 2. Second, I underline the unusual choice of metals of the image as well as their obvious decline, indicative of the moral degradation of humanity in history. Finally, I analyze the motif of hubris and the anthropological vocabulary, pointing to the precise development of degradation in the remainder of the Book of Daniel.
