Center for Interpretive and Qualitative Research Event

(E-mail memo:  March 1, 2005)

March 17 (Thurs.), 2005, 4:00-5:30PM, Berger Gallery, 207 College Hall, Duquesne University.
A Panel on "Interpreting Ancient Documents: the Question of Historical Accuracy."

Co-sponsored by the Jewish Faculty Forum and CIQR
 
Dr. Rebecca Denova, Visiting Lecturer in Department of Religious Studies, University of  Pittsburgh
Title: Scholarly Research on the Historical Jesus:  How Do We Know What We (Think) We Know?

Abstract:  The release of Mel Gibson's  "The Passion of the Christ" stimulated both popular interest and controversy surrounding the "historical Jesus," as well as his historical context (the world of Second Temple Judaism under Roman occupation). How do scholars go about researching this material, and how do they arrive at their various conclusions?  Which particular methodologies achieve consensus in the field, and which do not, and why?  A discussion of literary-critical and historical-critical methods, with specific examples, will demonstrate the various ways in which scholars seek to determine both the historicity of New Testament materials, as well as their contemporary meaning.
 
Dr. Ronald Polansky, Dept. of Philosophy, Duquesne University
Title: Definitive Interpretation of Ancient Texts

Abstract: As befits the title and setting, I show in twenty minutes or less my approach to reading and how it aims for compelling interpretation of ancient Greek philosophical texts. Based upon my assumption that the earliest philosophers seek comprehensive understanding, I show them employing deliberate discussed. Illustrating this by passages from Xenophanes, Parmenides, and Plato, I try to show how      the very elaborate contrivance of the author allows us to catch the author developing this contrivance.  In thus seeing the author's hands at work, we approach a definitive interpretation.

Dr. Patrick Juola, Dept. of Mathematics, Duquesne University
Title: Quantitative Linguistics as a base for Qualitative Judgements

Abstract:  Traditional interpretive questions such as authorial style have traditionally relied on qualitative interpretations and concepts.Recent work in quantitative linguistics has provided new analytic methods to address these interpretive questions.  I demonstrate some applications to a classical Serbian history, and show not only how the quantitative applications can answer qualitative questions, but raise new ones.

Minutes

The Berger Gallery was packed to hear three panelists give presentations on methods for addressing ancient texts.  The event was co-sponsored by the Jewish Faculty Forum.  Dr. Rebecca Denova, Visiting Lecturer in Department of Religious Studies, University of Pittsburgh, spoke on "Scholarly Research on the Historical Jesus:  How Do We Know What We (Think) We Know?," Dr. Ronald Polansky, Dept. of Philosophy, Duquesne University, on "Definitive Interpretation of Ancient Texts," and Dr. Patrick Juola, Duquesne University, Dept. of Mathematics, on "Quantitative Linguistics as a base for Qualitative Judgments." A fruitful discussion ensued and continued far past the official end of the session.