ABSTRACT
David Hartman's fundamental concern as philosopher and theologian lies in the bearing of philosophy and theology on human life. In this minimal sense, if not in a more technical sense, David is a pragmatist. The authors bring this minimally pragmatic attitude to bear in assessing the theological and philosophical significance of claims about divine justice and mercy. They argues that one can understand why debate about the traditional "problem of evil" is utterly absent from David's thinking. Next, the authors turn to claims of divine mercy. Then, they argue that such claims, and the attitude of thanksgiving and gratitude that attends them, can animate a meaningful Jewish religious life, as evidenced by their use as a central leitmotif of Jewish liturgy. The authors further identify a lacuna in their argument, and in addressing it, will develop a view of theological discourse.
