hermenötik

Hermeneutics is the theory and methodology of interpretation, especially of texts. Its roots lie in ancient Greek thought and classical rhetoric, and in biblical exegesis, where interpretation was seen as a disciplined practice. In contemporary usage, hermeneutics encompasses philosophy, literature, law, and the social sciences, focusing on how meaning is produced, understood, and contested across different contexts and traditions.

Key figures have shaped the field. Friedrich Schleiermacher emphasized the linguistic nature of interpretation and the importance of the author's point of view. Wilhelm Dilthey extended hermeneutics to the human sciences, arguing that understanding human life requires historical and cultural context. Martin Heidegger reframed interpretation as a fundamental aspect of human existence. Hans-Georg Gadamer developed philosophical hermeneutics, introducing the idea of the fusion of horizons and the central role of tradition in shaping understanding. Paul Ricoeur contributed to symbol and narrative interpretation and to broader critical readings of texts.

Core concepts and methods include the hermeneutic circle, which describes the iterative movement between understanding parts and the whole; the role of the interpreter’s preconceptions, or pre-understandings; and the notion that horizons—of both reader and text—must be extended through dialogue. Interpretive work emphasizes language, context, and history, rather than objective decoding alone.

Applications and debates extend across biblical and literary criticism, law, and social sciences. While hermeneutics has been criticized for potential subjectivity and relativism, proponents argue that interpretation is unavoidable and historically situated, and that disciplined hermeneutic practice can reveal meaningful connections between text, context, and human experience.