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Single Idea 5438

[filed under theme 1. Philosophy / H. Continental Philosophy / 3. Hermeneutics ]

Full Idea

Ricoeur distinguishes a hermeneutics of tradition (e.g. Gadamar), which interprets sympathetically looking for hidden messages, and a hermeneutics of suspicion (e.g. Nietzsche, Freud) which sees hidden drives and interests.

Gist of Idea

Hermeneutics of tradition is sympathetic, hermeneutics of suspicion is hostile

Source

report of Paul Ricoeur (works [1970]) by Thomas Mautner - Penguin Dictionary of Philosophy p.249

Book Ref

Mautner,Thomas: 'Dictionary of Philosophy' [Penguin 1997], p.249

A Reaction

Obviously the answer is somewhere between the two. Nietzsche's suspicion can be wonderful, but Freud's can seem silly (e.g. on Leonardo). On the whole I am on the 'tradition' side, because great thinkers can rise above their culture (on a good day).

The 15 ideas with the same theme [seeking rhetorical explanation instead of hard facts]:

5435 An interpreter of a text, because of wider knowledge, can understand it better than its author [Schleiermacher, by Mautner]
22028 Unity emerges from understanding particulars, so understanding is prior to seeing unity [Schleiermacher]
5437 The claim of hermeneutics to give knowledge through understanding is challenged by positivism [Mautner on Dilthey]
24147 Thoughts are uncertain, and are just occasions for interpretation [Nietzsche]
23212 A text has many interpretations, but no 'correct' one [Nietzsche]
23075 A text explained ceases to be a text [Cioran]
21892 Interpretations can be interpreted, so there is no original 'meaning' available [Derrida]
5438 Hermeneutics of tradition is sympathetic, hermeneutics of suspicion is hostile [Ricoeur, by Mautner]
20925 Hermeneutics blunts truth, by conforming it to the interpreter [Derrida, by Zimmermann,J]
20934 Hermeneutics is hostile, trying to overcome the other person's difference [Derrida, by Zimmermann,J]
5439 The 'hermeneutic circle' says parts and wholes are interdependent, and so cannot be interpreted [Mautner]
15575 Knowledge is not a static set of correct propositions, but a continuing search for better interpretations [Polt]
23449 Interpreting a text is representing it as making sense [Morris,M]
23408 The hermeneutic circle is either within the text, or between text and biased reader [Norden]
23407 Heremeneutics is either 'faith' (examining truth) or 'suspicion' (looking for hidden motives) [Norden]