interpretationsingular

Interpretationsingular is a term used in the philosophy of interpretation and literary theory to denote the view that a text or artifact has a single determinate interpretation that is correct or authoritative. Proponents argue that, when a text is properly analyzed—considering linguistic structure, historical context, and authorial intention—it yields one principal meaning that can be distinguished from rival readings.

In usage, the notion is often contrasted with interpretive pluralism or polysemy, which hold that texts admit multiple legitimate interpretations. Supporters of interpretationsingular may appeal to criteria such as coherence with evidence, exclusivity of meanings produced by strict hermeneutic rules, or identifiable authorial intent.

Practically, claimants of a single interpretation might attempt to demonstrate a unique interpretive key, such as a thesis embedded in the text’s structure or a salience of motifs that naturally converge on a single theme. Critics argue that meaning is situated in readers and contexts, and that texts routinely support diverse readings, making a unique interpretation untenable or undesirable for humanities work.

The term interpretationsingular is not widely standardized and is used sporadically in discussions about hermeneutics. It is related to debates about textual authority, the role of the reader, and the balance between objectivity and subjectivity in interpretation.