Why Does Hermeneutics Matter?

We see it every day—the problem of misunderstanding and misreading meaning and intentions. It can be the cause of frustration, hurt, and even violence. Hermeneutics is the branch of philosophy interested in how the interpretation of language, symbols, texts, and even the nature of existence requires a nuanced and open-minded approach. It can potentially help us to resolve a lot of the problems of miscommunication. Listen to three experts—Andreea Deciu Ritivoi (Carnegie Mellon University, USA), David Utsler (North Central Texas College, USA), and Nicholas Davey (University of Dundee, UK)—reflect on the importance of hermeneutics and why it matters to our everyday lives.

Living Philosophy is brought to you by Philosophy2u.com.

Host:
Dr Todd Mei

Sponsors:
Philosophy2u.com
Hillary Hutchinson, Career and Change Coach at Transitioning Your Life
Hermeneutics in Real Life

Links Related to this Episode:
Andreea Deciu Ritivoi (Carnegie Mellon University)
David Utsler (Discursive Dialectics)
Nicholas Davey (Wikipedia)

Intro to Hermeneutics (YouTube)
Hans Georg-Gadamer (SEP)
Paul Ricoeur (SEP)
Wilhelm Dilthey (SEP)
Georgia Warnke (PhilPeople)

Antigone (Wikipedia)
Anthropocentrism (Oxford Bibliographies)

Reading Suggestions by the Panelists
Hans Weidenfeld, Absolute Nothingness
Walter Kempowski, Swangsong 1945
Wilhelm Dilthey, Introduction to the Human Sciences
Clifford Geertz, The Interpretation of Culture
Wolfgang Iser, The Range of Interpretation
Gianni Vattimo, Beyond Interpretation: The Meaning of Hermeneutics for Philosophy
Mircea Eliade, The Sacred and the Profane: The Nature of Religion
Walter Benjamin, The Storyteller

Living Philosophy is brought to you by Philosophy2u.com.