Hermeneutics
Science of interpretation
Hermeneutics is the theory and practice of interpretation, especially of texts.
The term originated in biblical and legal scholarship—how to extract meaning from scripture or statute—but now applies broadly to any interpretive endeavor: literary hermeneutics, legal hermeneutics.
In philosophy, hermeneutics examines how understanding itself works, how context shapes meaning, and how interpreters bring their own assumptions to what they read.
Hermeneutics philosopher, twentieth-century German
- HeideggerExistential ontology's founder
- SchleiermacherProtestant theology reformer
- phenomenologyStudy of subjective experience
- ontologyStudy of existence's nature
historicity · horizon · prejudice · tradition · Dasein · philosophical · epistemology · existential
Systematic examination of writing
- close readingDetailed textual analysis
- commentaryExplanatory remarks on events
- expositionSystematic explanatory presentation
- elucidationAct of explaining clearly
annotation · gloss · critique · literary criticism · decoding · unpacking · construal · explicating
Of sacred texts
- scripturalOf sacred writings
- patristicOf church fathers
- canonicalAccepted as standard
- revelationSurprising disclosed truth
sacred · homiletics · typology · allegory · literal · spiritual · reformation · theological
Philosophy governing legal systems
- statutoryEstablished by enacted law
- constitutionalHealth-promoting walk
- legislative intentLawmakers' goal in enacting
- precedentPrior authoritative example
originalism · textualism · judicial · codification · doctrine · adjudication · construction · legal reasoning
Placing something within circumstances
- methodologyFormal procedural framework
- dialogicalOf or involving conversation
- reflexivityQuality of self-reference
- iterativeInvolving repeated cycles
systematic · critical · reconstruction · application · mediation · bracketing · presupposition · framework
Gadamer
Hermeneutics philosopher, twentieth-century German
- HeideggerExistential ontology's founder
- SchleiermacherProtestant theology reformer
- phenomenologyStudy of subjective experience
ontology · historicity · horizon · prejudice · tradition · Dasein · philosophical · epistemology · existential · temporal
textual analysis
Systematic examination of writing
- close readingDetailed textual analysis
- commentaryExplanatory remarks on events
- expositionSystematic explanatory presentation
elucidation · annotation · gloss · critique · literary criticism · decoding · unpacking · construal · explicating · reading
biblical
Of sacred texts
- scripturalOf sacred writings
- patristicOf church fathers
- canonicalAccepted as standard
revelation · sacred · homiletics · typology · allegory · literal · spiritual · reformation · theological · prophetic
jurisprudence
Philosophy governing legal systems
- statutoryEstablished by enacted law
- constitutionalHealth-promoting walk
- legislative intentLawmakers' goal in enacting
precedent · originalism · textualism · judicial · codification · doctrine · adjudication · construction · legal reasoning · case law
contextualization
Placing something within circumstances
- methodologyFormal procedural framework
- dialogicalOf or involving conversation
- reflexivityQuality of self-reference
iterative · systematic · critical · reconstruction · application · mediation · bracketing · presupposition · framework · approach
Hermeneuticsliteralism
Exact meaning only
literal reading · literal interpretation · textualism · inerrancy · proof-texting
Hermeneuticspositivism
Philosophy demanding verifiable evidence
empiricism · scientism · objectivism · materialism · reductionism
- hermeneutic circleUnderstanding through recursive interpretation