Unveiling Truths through
Methods
Philo 1
There are two kinds of people
in the world:
Those who manage what they
don’t know ,
and don’t know what they
manage.
• Philosopher knows what he manages
and he manages what he knows.
• How did he do it?
• It is the nature and scope of
methodology.
Methodology
➢ they are like a useful ladder that you need
to use in order to climb a roof.
➢ as philosopher, you need to restrict yourself
to these methodologies when you yourself
philosophize.
I, wisdom dwell with
prudence and find out
knowledge of witty
inventions…
Proverbs 8:12
Hermeneutics
- from the Greek word “hermeneuein” - means
to utter, to explain, to translate
- is the theory and methodology of
interpretation, especially the interpretation of
biblical texts, wisdom literature, and
philosophical texts.
Major Proponents of Hermeneutics
Friedrich D.E. General Hermeneutics and Grammatical &
Schleiermacher Technical Interpretation
Wilhem Dilthey Understanding of Other Persons and their
Expressions
Rudolf Karl The Problem of Methodolizing
Bultmann
Hans-Georg Rhetoric, Hermeneutics and the Critique of
Gadamer Ideology
Jurgen Habermas On Hermeneutics’ Claim to Universality
Hermeneutics’ Claim to Universality
● Hermeneutics is about one’s capability for making
linguistic communication understandable
● Hermeneutics is at work more in the trying to make a
decision on practical questions
● Philosophical hermeneutics is a hermeneutical reflection
which is in the service of: skillful understanding and
explication; convincing and persuading
Humanities vs. Natural science
Humanities Natural Science
- intends to obtain a deeper - seek to explain natural
understanding of human phenomena
activity -and the products of lacking intentionality and
human activity that contain meaning
meaning due to the fact that
they originate from
intentionality.
Humanities vs. Natural science
Humanities Natural Science
- intends mainly to explain - concerned with human life
(Dilthey) and activity (Dilthey)
- the primary task is to arrive - intends mainly to
at law-based causal understand and interpret
explanations expressions of human
- the researcher is an activity
objective and neutral
observer
Subject matter of human sciences
• All human sciences deal with human thought, action, belief,
will, fear and aspiration (Dilthey)
• Goal of hermeneutic is re- experience
Schleiermacher
- understanding is a circular never
ending process
- the quality of the dialogue between
reader (interpreter) and text is
deepening the horizons of
understanding
- the scientific method is mainly
qualitative
The Hermeneutic circle
Hans-Georg Gadamer
● No detached observer – scientist
● We are part of a tradition - this is our
prerequisite for understanding anything
at all.
● Understanding is about dealing with the
meeting between prejudice and ”text” –
or scientist and subject.
Jurgen Habermas
● Hermeneutics is about one’s capability for
making linguistic communication
understandable.
● Hermeneutics is at work more in the
trying to make decision on practical
questions.
● Philosophical hermeneutics is a
hermeneutic reflection which is in the
service of:
a. skillful understanding and explanation
b. convincing and persuading
Jurgen Habermas
Theory of communicative action
- is cooperative action undertaken by
individuals based upon mutual
deliberation and argumentation.
- serves to transmit and renew cultural
knowledge, in a process of achieving
mutual understandings. It then
coordinates action towards social
integration and solidarity.
7 Principles of Hermeneutics
1. Continuously moving back and forth
2. The interpretation is done when a good gestalt is
reached
3. Testing the parts as I work with the subject
4. The autonomy of the subject
5. Knowledge in the subject
6. Consciousness about my own subjectivity
7. Every understanding is better understanding
Source: Kvale & Brinkmann (2014, 3rd edition) InterViews, SAGE
Box 12.2 Hermeutic Canons of interpretation p. 210-11
1. Continuously moving back and forth
• An interaction between your
pre-understanding and your
new understanding
• Your horizon is moving
towards a fusion of horizon
but in interaction (dialogue)
between you and the subject
2. The interpretation is done when a good
Gestalt is reached
• It seems like a never ending process
• But when you stop meeting contradiction between parts and the
whole, you’ve reached a good gestalt, you’re approaching the truth.
Gestalt – an organized whole that is perceived as more
than the sum of its parts
2. The interpretation is done when a good
Gestalt is reached
• It seems like a never
ending process
• But when you stop
meeting contradiction
between parts and the
whole, you’ve reached a
good gestalt, you’re
approaching the truth.
Gestalt – an organized whole that is perceived as more than
the sum of its parts
Gestalt Principles or Laws
Law of Proximity
● are rules that describe how the
human eye perceives visual
Law of Continuity
elements.
these principles aim to show how Law of Similarity
complex scenes can be reduced to
more simple shapes. Law of Closure
they also aim to explain how the
eyes perceive the shapes as a Law of Pragnanz
single, united form rather than the
separate simpler elements involved. Law of Figure/Ground
3. Testing the parts as I work with the subject
• Don’t wait until hand-in time to test
the parts and small pieces of your
interpretation
• Check with the people with relevant
knowledge
• Test your own understanding of the
subject with people engaging in the
subject
4. The autonomy of the subject
• Don’t try to project your
own values and beliefs
into the subject
• Let the subject speak for
itself and try to interpret
from your position
5. Knowledge in the subject
• Gain as much
knowledge as possible in
the subject
• Make sure that you are
working effectively
6. Consciousness about my own subjectivity
• Specify and outline
your own pre-
understanding of the
subject
7. Every understanding is better understanding
• The more you are
working with the subject,
the better your
understanding gets
• Every understanding
enlarges your horizon
