Elements of a Theory of Hermeneutic Experience 

Tutorials, analysis, interpretation, and discussion of texts

Assessment method: Class participation and an oral presentation

As every philosophically trained reader of Truth and Method knows, theory, which is enunciated in this book is a theory of hermeneutical experience. But the problem is: What does it mean – in this context – both "hermeneutics" and "experience"? In the matter of fact, Truth and Method is a principal polemics with human sciences and with its philosophy. Two shifts: from hermeneutics as a technique to hermeneutics as practice, and from philosophy as epistemology to philosophy as ontology specifies the arguments on which philosophical hermeneutics of Gadamer is based. On its ground, Gadamer's hermeneutical philosophy has evolved as something quite new. The monograph is dedicated to ques-tions of this kind.

Aims:

The primary goal of the lecture is to show novelty and forcefulness of Gadamer's theory of hermeneutical experience in the interpretation of human sciences. Character and specificity of the human sciences – argues Gadamer – requires critical attitude but not epistemological but ontological one. After completing the subject, the students should be able to explain the main differences between the ontological and epistemological interpretation of hermeneutics. Willingness to analyze and interpret texts and to discuss them in class is required.

1. H-G. Gadamer, Truth and Method, Continuum, London, New York 2004.

2. H-G. Gadamer, Philosophical Hermeneutics Univ. of California Press, Berkeley, Los Angeles, London 2008

3. The Cambridge Companion to Gadamer. [R. J. Dostal ed.] Cambridge Universi-ty Press; 2002

4. H-G. Gadamer, Reason in the Age of Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press 1998

5. The Gadamer Reader. A Bouquet of the Later Writings. [Edited by Richard E. Palmer] Northwestern University Press Evanston, 2007

6. R. Palmer, Hermeneutics. Interpretation Theory in Schleiermacher, Dilthey, Heidegger, and Gadamer, Evanston Northwestern Univ. Press 1969.

7. Lawn Ch., and Keane N., The Gadamer Dictionary /. London, Continuum Press 2011.

Secondary source:

1. N.Davey, Unquiet Understanding Gadamer’s Philosophical Hermeneutics State University of New York Press, Albany 2006.

2. J. Grondin, Introduction to Philosophical Hermeneutics (Yale Studies in Hermeneutics) Yale University Press 1997.

3. A Century of Philosophy Hans-Georg Gadamer in Conversation with Riccardo Dottori Continuum International Publishing 2006.