Tragedy and the Sorrow of Finitude:
Reflections on Sin and Death in the Philosophy of Josiah Royce
Mathew A. Foust, University
of Oregon
Introduction
In The Problem of Christianity, Josiah Royce describes the case
of the traitor as embodying "the exemplary type of moral tragedy" which
he will use toward the adumbration of a theory of atonement (166). Royce
describes the redemptive process of the traitor as a "tragic reconciliation,"
for his sinful deed can never be undone (170). Still, the traitor can,
with regard to his treason, "bring out of the realm of death a new life
that only this very death rendered possible" (181). In this article, I
argue that Royce's use of "death" here is no mere metaphorical flourish.
Drawing from The World and the Individual and The Problem
of Christianity, I will propose that for Royce, sin and death are
different instances of the same evil. Moreover, I will suggest that Royce's
novel and perceptive understanding of the limits of human nature leads
him to valuable ways of coping with our finitude, both as individuals
and communities.
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