REVIEW OF GAME THEORY AND THE HUMANITIES: BRIDGING TWO WORLDS

摘要

Abraham climbs Mount Moriah to sacrifice his son to God. God has asked him to, and Abraham obeys. Moments before the sacrifice is consummated, God sends an angel to tell Abraham to desist. His intention to obey is enough; there is no need to go through with the act. This episode of the Hebrew Bible has inspired endless exegesis and analysis. A standard interpretation is that Abraham passed a test of faith. But what does it mean to have faith that someone will not do what he said he would do? Why would Abraham have faith that God would cancel his demand for a sacrifice? Faith is related to trust, and trust refers to the expectation that the other party will do what it promised. It is small wander that Genesis 22 has troubled the guardians of the Abrahamic religions.