Hermeneutics

Hermeneutics

“How can you prove that!”

Hermeneutics

How do I understand?What does it mean to understand something?

Background: Understanding the bibleUnderstanding the lawPhenomenologyGerman/continental philosophyMartin Heidegger (1889 - 1976)Hans Georg Gadamer (1900 –

2002)

Hermeneutics

Problem:

How can I secure the quality of my research?

The problem of knowing – Ontology

Epistemology

Hermeneutics

The problem of understanding and truth in science

Nihilism (I do not care about your research)

Scepticism (I do not believe you)Rationalism (Theory is the thing – and it

should be for you as well)Positivism (Data is the ting – and it

should be for you as well)

Hermeneutics as an alternative

Hermenutics

The problem with nihilism and scepticism

Nihilism - ignored

Scepticism: The scandal of philosophy.

Is there an external world?

Hermeneutics

Through language are we part of a community, which makes scepticism irrelevant.

Ask Instead: What does it mean to be!

Hermeneutics

The problem of understanding

Heidegger: Vor-grif (Language, concepts)

Vor-sight (horizon, world view)

Vor-habe (intention)

Hermeneutics

Understanding

Prejudice: all understanding begins with a prejudiceVor-wissen, Pre-

understanding, for-forståelse

I know that there is something, therefore I can ask interesting questions and correct my pre-understanding into a good, trustworthy, genuine, true, reliable understanding

Hermeneutics

Horizon:

“Pardon him, Theodotus: He is a barbarian, and thinks that the customs of his tribe and island are the laws of nature.”

(G.B. Shaw, Caesar and Cleopatra)

Horizon, world view, schetama, reality, …

Hermeneutics

Understanding as Fusion of Horizons

Understand your own horizon Understand the other’s horizonUnderstand the horizon of your field of

researchUnderstand a common horizonUnderstand a new horizon

Hermeneutics

Distance of time

Things are forgotten

Distance of time gives us the possibility of new and interesting interpretations.

Ex: The history of witches.

Hermeneutics

Tradition - Überlieferung

”Understanding is to be thought of less as a subjective act than as participating in an event of tradition, a process of transmission in which past and present is constantly mediated”

Hermeneutics

History of effect (Virkungsgeschicte) and consciousness of history of effect

To understand history is to understand its effect on the future

Ex: Jesus and the witches

Hermeneutics

The foreconception of completenessWahrheitsanspruch - the claim of truth

The text is a wholeThe text is true

If not, we will wonder

Hermeneutics

SituationNothing happens in a vacuumWe are always in time an spaceWe bring our personal historyWe bring our experiencesWe bring our prejudices

We are always in a situation, which will affect our interpretations

Hermeneutics

Questions as prerequisite and possibility

Hermeneutics

Understanding as use

The judge understands the law when he uses it

The engineer understands math when she uses it

Hermeneutics

Truth as ”aletheia”

“A glade in the forest – walking towards the light”

A constant search for truth - which we will probably never find – but the search will make us wiser!

Hermeneutics

Conclusions

• Understanding as a fusion of horizons• “Man må sætte sine fordomme på spil for at få dem i spil”• Put your prejudices at stake• Understanding is self-understanding• Understanding is to be part of a tradition• Understanding is tied to a situation• Understanding is understanding of something (sachverstehen)• Understanding is ethical• Understanding and use

Hermeneutics

Conclusions

The quality of my research?

PrejudicesHorizons and fusion of horizonsSachverstehen

Hermeneutics

What do we make of all this?

What's in it for an engineer?