Full Idea
The claim of hermeneutics to give understanding instead of explanation can be seen as part of the theory of knowledge, but it seems to be incompatible with the most accepted aspects of positivism.
Clarification
'Positivism' says only scientific method provides true knowledge
Gist of Idea
The claim of hermeneutics to give knowledge through understanding is challenged by positivism
Source
comment on Wilhelm Dilthey (works [1883]) by Thomas Mautner - Penguin Dictionary of Philosophy p.248
Book Reference
Mautner,Thomas: 'Dictionary of Philosophy' [Penguin 1997], p.248
A Reaction
So much the worse for positivism. The same conflict occurs in modern philosophy of mind. God can be a positivist if he likes, but we must settle for hermeneutics for a lot of our knowledge. We are discussing method, not ontology.