Blog Marcos L. Mucheroni Filosofia, Noosfera e cibercultura

Hermeneutics is the art or technique of interpreting and explaining texts. Originating in Greek, it also applies today to the ontology and philosophy of language, and is used to interpret not only traditional texts and philosophies, but also sacred texts and legal texts.

The serious problem with language today is its perspective of a fragmentary and distorted analysis of texts, while hermeneutics is used for true interpretation (etymological aspects, translation and meaning), the use of language to justify power was more typical of the sophists in ancient modernity.

So the fruits of true linguistic expression, and of philosophical hermeneutics, was to build a branch of philosophy that studies the theory of interpretation. There are several authors, but I would highlight Hans-Georg Gadamer, who is fundamental to a humanistic perspective.

Gadamer reconstructs the concept of preconception, removing the negative charge of pre-judgment that it had acquired in illustration, giving it an essential character within hermeneutics, since it allows the fusion of horizons, within the hermeneutic circle prior to dialogue.

He thus rejects the idea of a knowledge of the past through pure reason, without the mediation of the interpreter’s own tradition, since this prevents the fusion of horizons and dialog.

He thus rejects the idea of a knowledge of the past through pure reason, without the mediation of the interpreter’s own tradition, since this prevents the fusion of horizons and dialog.

The interpreter doesn’t just carry out a “reproductive” activity of the text, but updates it according to the circumstances of the moment, which is why they speak of their ‘productive’ labor (Gadamer, 1997), there is no direct reference to Hannah Arendt’s concept of “labor”, but it fits well with the text, a natural and non-durable activity that is exhausted when it is carried out.

So is the productive use of language, words that are actions that trigger attitudes of help, rescue, solidarity and dialogue, even if they have different interpretations, the important thing is that humanitarian language leads to actions in favor of society and fruitful principles.

You can’t pick figs from thorns, a good tree can’t bear bad fruit, language that is directed towards good humanitarian initiatives won’t have negative results, so it easily moves towards a dialogue if the “fusion of horizons” is the starting point for interpretation, the basis of a hermeneutic dialogue.

Gadamer, Hans-Georg. (1997) Verdade e Método: Traços fundamentais de uma hermenêutica filosófica. Brazil, Petrópolis, RJ: Vozes.