Hermeneutics

Catalog description

This course in hermeneutics, the theory of interpretation, will focus on Gadamer?s great book Truth and Method and other texts. We focus on the history of interpretation in history, in aesthetics, and in biblical studies. We are interested in Gadamer?s phenomenological concepts of the fusion of horizons, dialogue and dialectic, language and discourse, and the history of effects. We also consider his late ideas about solidarity. The problems of time and narrative are essential to hermeneutics, and for this we turn to Ricoeur?s Time and Narrative. It is strongly recommended that any students enrolling in this class have completed at least two Philosophy courses before it begins.