What is truth? This question raised by Pilatus to Jesus does not only bother theological scholars ever since, but also philosophical thinkers. This paper examines how one of the most important German philosophers of the 20th century, Hans Georg Gadamer, dealt with the issue of truth within his hermeneutical main work “Wahrheit und Methode.” Even one of his critics, E.G. Hirsch admits: “Hans Georg Gadamer has published the most substantial treatise on hermeneutic theory that has come from Germany this century.” After the presentation of his main thesis, which can only be done in a rough overview, an evangelical response will be worked out. This main task of the paper will deal with the question how Gadamer´s ideas can be adopted in an apologetics within a postmodern framework. Aiming at a balanced evalutation both helpful and difficult aspects will be highlighted. A short conclusion bundling up the most important results will round of the paper.
Table of Contents
0. Introduction
1. Wahrheit und Methode: Main features of a philosophical hermeneutics
1.1. Historical classification and def. “the truth of understanding”
1.1.1. The problem of truth
1.1.2. The truth of understanding
1.2. Theoretical main features of Gadamer´s hermeneutic
1.2.1. The hermeneutical circle
1.2.2. The prestructure of understanding: the prejudices
1.2.3. The principle of the effective history
1.2.4. The meaning of the application
1.3. The practice of hermeneutics
1.3.1. The hermeneutical experience
1.3.2. Understanding as conversation in the dialectic of question and answer
2. Critical Interaction with Gadamer
2.1. Preliminary remarks
2.2. Helpful ideas in Gadamers doctrine
2.2.1. The claim for an own hermeneutical methodology for theology
2.2.2. Applications of the hermeneutical circle
2.2.3. The role of prejudices
2.2.4. Implications from the call to effective historical consciousness
2.2.5. The worth of the application
2.2.6. Implications from the hermeneutical experience
2.2.7. Hermeneutics as dialogue
2.2.8. Human rationality as participating in transcendense
2.3. Critical aspects
2.3.1. Situatedness of the text and the noetical content of sense
2.3.2. Context of words in hermeneutics?
2.3.3. Text as communication partner?
2.3.4. Going beyond the author´s understanding?
2.3.5. Between objectivism and relativism and theological hermeneutics
3. conclusion
4. Bibliography
Objectives & Themes
The primary objective of this paper is to examine the work of Hans Georg Gadamer, specifically his major treatise "Wahrheit und Methode", and to develop an evangelical response to his philosophical hermeneutics. The research explores whether Gadamer's concepts can be fruitfully adopted for apologetics within a postmodern framework, while weighing both the beneficial and the problematic aspects of his thought.
- Analysis of Gadamer's philosophical hermeneutics and the rejection of a strict scientific method for the humanities.
- Evaluation of key concepts such as the hermeneutical circle, effective historical consciousness, and the fusion of horizons.
- Critique of Gadamer’s theory from an evangelical and theological standpoint, specifically concerning the nature of truth.
- Assessment of the applicability of hermeneutical dialogue for contemporary theological reflection.
Excerpt from the Book
1.2.2. The prestructure of understanding: the prejudices
As one of the most important conditions of understanding Gadamer names the prejudices. Against the Enlightment, which sess prejudices as a hinderance in gaining knowledge which need to be overcome he highlights the importance of conditioned thinking. He turns it upside down: Prejudices are not to be overcome, not a disturbance that need to be abolished but nearly transcendently condition of understanding.26
But Gadamer divides between true prejudices under which we understand, and wrong prejudices under which we misunderstand.27 True prejudices enhance or specify our possibility of understanding in encountering the tradition.28 False prejudices avert understanding. It is thus to make those own prejudices conscious which lead the understanding, that tradition, therewith the other opinion takes off himself and comes to worth.29
The distinction is done by means of the intervall.30 By intervall Gadamer understands the time between the composition of a work and the particular hermeneutic topical situation.31 Thanks to the historical distance the judgement will be saver.32 With Grodin we annotate that this distinction appears to be questionable, as it is unusable for the dealing with contemporary poetry.33
Summary of Chapters
0. Introduction: Outlines the significance of Gadamer’s work and sets the goal of evaluating his hermeneutical insights for evangelical apologetics.
1. Wahrheit und Methode: Main features of a philosophical hermeneutics: Provides an overview of Gadamer's critique of scientific method and his conceptual framework for understanding in the humanities.
2. Critical Interaction with Gadamer: Discusses the practical application of Gadamer's theories in theology and provides a critical evaluation of potential pitfalls from an evangelical perspective.
3. conclusion: Synthesizes the main findings, acknowledging both the utility of Gadamer's insights and the theological disagreements regarding the objective nature of biblical truth.
4. Bibliography: Lists the primary and secondary sources used in the analysis, including Gadamer's original works and theological commentaries.
Keywords
Hermeneutics, Gadamer, Truth, Understanding, Effective History, Prejudices, Horizon, Theology, Apologetics, Postmodernism, Exegesis, Dialogue, Interpretation, Tradition, Language.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper fundamentally deals with the philosophical hermeneutics of Hans Georg Gadamer as presented in his seminal work "Wahrheit und Methode" and analyzes its relevance for theological discourse.
What are the central themes covered?
Key themes include the critique of scientific positivism, the role of pre-understandings (prejudices) in interpretation, the concept of effective history, and the fusion of horizons.
What is the primary objective or research question?
The primary aim is to determine how Gadamer's ideas can be adopted for apologetics within a postmodern framework while maintaining a critical, evangelical perspective on textual interpretation.
Which scientific methodology is employed?
The author uses a method of critical reflection and deconstruction, taking Gadamer's philosophical concepts out of their original context to assess their practical utility for theological hermeneutics.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The body covers theoretical features of Gadamer's hermeneutics, their practical applications in theological settings, and critical aspects where evangelical perspectives diverge from Gadamer's philosophical claims.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
The most important keywords include Hermeneutics, Gadamer, Truth, Effective History, Prejudices, Theology, and Postmodernism.
How does the author view the "situatedness" of a text?
The author critically examines Gadamer's claim that no text is "true in itself," arguing from an evangelical perspective that the Bible possesses an objective, God-given meaning despite the interpreter's subjectivity.
What is the conclusion regarding Gadamer's usefulness for theology?
The conclusion suggests that while Gadamer provides valuable methodological hints, especially regarding humility and the role of tradition, his philosophical presuppositions require careful filtering when applied to the Holy Scriptures.
- Quote paper
- Daniel Steffen Schwarz (Author), 2006, “Wahrheit und Methode“ by Gadamer. Critical Interaction with a Philosophical Hermeneutics, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/284907
