Philosophical hermeneutics Hermeneutics

1 philosophical hermeneutics

1.1 ancient , medieval hermeneutics
1.2 modern hermeneutics

1.2.1 schleiermacher (1768–1834)
1.2.2 dilthey (1833–1911)
1.2.3 heidegger (1889–1976)
1.2.4 gadamer (1900–2002) et al.
1.2.5 new hermeneutic
1.2.6 marxist hermeneutics
1.2.7 objective hermeneutics

philosophical hermeneutics
ancient , medieval hermeneutics

modern hermeneutics

the discipline of hermeneutics emerged new humanist education of 15th century historical , critical methodology analyzing texts. in triumph of modern hermeneutics, italian humanist lorenzo valla proved in 1440 donation of constantine forgery. done through intrinsic evidence of text itself. hermeneutics expanded medieval role of explaining true meaning of bible.

however, biblical hermeneutics did not die off. example, protestant reformation brought renewed interest in interpretation of bible, took step away interpretive tradition developed during middle ages texts themselves. martin luther , john calvin emphasized scriptura sui ipsius interpres (scripture interprets itself). calvin used brevitas et facilitas aspect of theological hermeneutics.

the rationalist enlightenment led hermeneutists, protestant exegetists, view scriptural texts secular classical texts. interpreted scripture responses historical or social forces that, example, apparent contradictions , difficult passages in new testament might clarified comparing possible meanings contemporary christian practices.

19th- , 20th-century hermeneutics emerged theory of understanding (verstehen) through work of friedrich schleiermacher (romantic hermeneutics , methodological hermeneutics), august böckh (methodological hermeneutics), wilhelm dilthey (epistemological hermeneutics), martin heidegger (ontological hermeneutics, hermeneutic phenomenology, , transcendental hermeneutic phenomenology), hans-georg gadamer (ontological hermeneutics), leo strauss (straussian hermeneutics), paul ricœur (hermeneutic phenomenology), walter benjamin (marxist hermeneutics), ernst bloch (marxist hermeneutics), jacques derrida (radical hermeneutics, namely deconstruction), richard kearney (diacritical hermeneutics), fredric jameson (marxist hermeneutics), , john thompson (critical hermeneutics).

regarding relation of hermeneutics problems of analytic philosophy, there has been, particularly among analytic heideggerians , working on heidegger’s philosophy of science, attempt try , situate heidegger s hermeneutic project in debates concerning realism , anti-realism: arguments have been presented both heidegger s hermeneutic idealism (the thesis meaning determines reference or, equivalently, our understanding of being of entities determines entities entities) , heidegger s hermeneutic realism (the thesis (a) there nature in , science can give explanation of how nature works, , (b) (a) compatible ontological implications of our everyday practices).

analytic philosophers influenced hermeneutic tradition include charles taylor , dagfinn føllesdal.

schleiermacher (1768–1834)

friedrich schleiermacher explored nature of understanding in relation not problem of deciphering sacred texts human texts , modes of communication.

the interpretation of text must proceed framing content in terms of overall organization of work. schleiermacher distinguished between grammatical interpretation , psychological interpretation. former studies how work composed general ideas; latter studies peculiar combinations characterize work whole. said every problem of interpretation problem of understanding , defined hermeneutics art of avoiding misunderstanding. misunderstanding avoided means of knowledge of grammatical , psychological laws.

during schleiermacher s time, fundamental shift occurred understanding not merely exact words , objective meaning, understanding of writer s distinctive character , point of view.

dilthey (1833–1911)

wilhelm dilthey broadened hermeneutics more relating interpretation historical objectification. understanding moves outer manifestations of human action , productivity exploration of inner meaning. in last important essay, understanding of other persons , manifestations of life (1910), dilthey made clear move outer inner, expression expressed, not based on empathy. empathy involves direct identification other. interpretation involves indirect or mediated understanding can attained placing human expressions in historical context. thus, understanding not process of reconstructing state of mind of author, 1 of articulating expressed in work.

dilthey divided sciences of mind (human sciences) 3 structural levels: experience, expression, , comprehension.

experience means feel situation or thing personally. dilthey suggested can grasp meaning of unknown thought when try experience it. understanding of experience similar of phenomenologist edmund husserl.
expression converts experience meaning because discourse has appeal outside of oneself. every saying expression. dilthey suggested 1 can return expression, written form, , practice has same objective value experiment in science. possibility of returning makes scientific analysis possible, , therefore humanities may labeled science. moreover, assumed expression may saying more speaker intends because expression brings forward meanings individual consciousness may not understand.
the last structural level of science of mind, according dilthey, comprehension, level contains both comprehension , incomprehension. incomprehension means, more or less, wrong understanding. assumed comprehension produces coexistence: understands, understands others; not understand stays alone.

heidegger (1889–1976)

in 20th century, martin heidegger s philosophical hermeneutics shifted focus interpretation existential understanding rooted in fundamental ontology, treated more direct — , more authentic — way of being-in-the-world (in-der-welt-sein) merely way of knowing. example, called special hermeneutic of empathy dissolve classic philosophic issue of other minds putting issue in context of being-with of human relatedness. (heidegger himself did not complete inquiry.)

advocates of approach claim texts, , people produce them, cannot studied means of using same scientific methods used in natural sciences, drawing upon arguments similar of antipositivism. moreover, claim such texts conventionalized expressions of experience of author. thus, interpretation of such texts reveal social context in formed, and, more significantly, provide reader means of sharing experiences of author.

the reciprocity between text , context part of heidegger called hermeneutic circle. among key thinkers elaborated idea sociologist max weber.

gadamer (1900–2002) et al.

hans-georg gadamer s hermeneutics development of hermeneutics of teacher, heidegger. gadamer asserted methodical contemplation opposite experience , reflection. can reach truth understanding or mastering our experience. according gadamer, our understanding not fixed rather changing , indicating new perspectives. important thing unfold nature of individual understanding.

gadamer pointed out prejudice element of our understanding , not per se without value. indeed, prejudices, in sense of pre-judgements of thing want understand, unavoidable. being alien particular tradition condition of our understanding. said can never step outside of our tradition — can try understand it. further elaborates idea of hermeneutic circle.

bernard lonergan s (1904–1984) hermeneutics less known, case considering work culmination of postmodern hermeneutical revolution began heidegger made in several articles lonergan specialist frederick g. lawrence.

paul ricœur (1913–2005) developed hermeneutics based upon heidegger s concepts. work differs in many ways of gadamer.

karl-otto apel (b. 1922) elaborated hermeneutics based on american semiotics. applied model discourse ethics political motivations akin of critical theory.

jürgen habermas (b. 1929) criticized conservatism of previous hermeneutists, gadamer, because focus on tradition seemed undermine possibilities social criticism , transformation. criticized marxism , previous members of frankfurt school missing hermeneutical dimension of critical theory.

habermas incorporated notion of lifeworld , emphasized importance social theory of interaction, communication, labor, , production. viewed hermeneutics dimension of critical social theory.

andrés ortiz-osés (b. 1943) has developed symbolic hermeneutics mediterranean response northern european hermeneutics. main statement regarding symbolic understanding of world meaning symbolic healing of injury.

two other important hermeneutic scholars jean grondin (b. 1955) , maurizio ferraris (b. 1956).

mauricio beuchot coined term , discipline of analogic hermeneutics, type of hermeneutics based upon interpretation , takes account plurality of aspects of meaning. drew categories both analytic , continental philosophy, history of thought.

two scholars have published criticism of gadamer s hermeneutics italian jurist emilio betti , american literary theorist e. d. hirsch.

new hermeneutic

new hermeneutic theory , methodology of interpretation understand biblical texts through existentialism. essence of new hermeneutic emphasizes not existence of language fact language eventualized in history of individual life. called event of language. ernst fuchs, gerhard ebeling, , james m. robinson scholars represent new hermeneutics.

marxist hermeneutics

the method of marxist hermeneutics has been developed work of, primarily, walter benjamin , fredric jameson. benjamin outlines theory of allegory in study ursprung des deutschen trauerspiel ( trauerspiel literally means mourning play translated tragic drama ). fredric jameson draws on biblical hermeneutics, ernst bloch, , work of northrop frye, advance theory of marxist hermeneutics in influential political unconscious. jameson s marxist hermeneutics outlined in first chapter of book, titled on interpretation jameson re-interprets (and secularizes) fourfold system (or 4 levels) of biblical exegesis (literal; moral; allegorical; anagogical) relate interpretation mode of production, , eventually, history.

objective hermeneutics

karl popper first used term objective hermeneutics in objective knowledge (1972).

in 1992, association objective hermeneutics (agoh) founded in frankfurt main scholars of various disciplines in humanities , social sciences. goal provide scholars use methodology of objective hermeneutics means of exchanging information.

in 1 of few translated texts of german school of hermeneutics, founders declared:

our approach has grown out of empirical study of family interactions reflection upon procedures of interpretation employed in our research. time being shall refer objective hermeneutics in order distinguish traditional hermeneutic techniques , orientations. general significance sociological analysis of objective hermeneutics issues fact that, in social sciences, interpretive methods constitute fundamental procedures of measurement , of generation of research data relevant theory. our perspective, standard, nonhermeneutic methods of quantitative social research can justified because permit shortcut in generating data (and research economy comes under specific conditions). whereas conventional methodological attitude in social sciences justifies qualitative approaches exploratory or preparatory activities, succeeded standardized approaches , techniques actual scientific procedures (assuring precision, validity, , objectivity), regard hermeneutic procedures basic method gaining precise , valid knowledge in social sciences. however, not reject alternative approaches dogmatically. in fact useful wherever loss in precision , objectivity necessitated requirement of research economy can condoned , tolerated in light of prior hermeneutically elucidated research experiences.