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
- intends mainly to explain
(Dilthey)
- the primary task is to arrive
at law-based causal
explanations
- the researcher is an
objective and neutral
observer
Natural Science
- concerned with human life
and activity (Dilthey)
- intends mainly to
understand and interpret
expressions of human
activity
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