The Event of Meaning in Gadamer’s Hermeneutics

This book explores Gadamer's account of the nature of meaning, arguing that meanings are events that occur when we encounter a text in the appropriate way. It sheds new light on his wider hermeneutical project and appeals to researchers and advanced students in hermeneutics, phenomenology, and the philosophy of language.

Format: Hardback
Length: 252 pages
Publication date: 06 February 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book offers a comprehensive exploration of Gadamer's account of the nature of meaning, presenting it as a philosophically valuable perspective that sheds new light on his broader hermeneutical project. In contrast to traditional philosophical approaches that view meanings as belonging to a distinct class of objects, Gadamer's central contention is that meanings are, in fact, events. Rather than seeking to uncover pre-existing contents through interpretive efforts, Gadamer posits that the meaning of a text emerges through the encounter between the text and the reader in the appropriate manner.

In these events of meaning, the world presents itself to us in a manner that is inherently tied to the specific context in which we find ourselves. The world becomes intelligible in a way that is uniquely and irreversibly linked to our concrete situation. Recognizing Gadamer's conception of meaning as events provides a deeper understanding of his broader views and how they interrelate. For instance, his accounts of interpretive normativity, the aspectival nature of understanding, and the nature of essences gain greater clarity when viewed as extensions of his fundamental understanding of meanings as events.

The Event of Meaning in Gadamer's Hermeneutics will be of particular interest to researchers and advanced students engaged in hermeneutics, phenomenology, and the philosophy of language. Moreover, it will appeal to humanities teachers and researchers who are concerned with the relevance of texts from distant cultures to contemporary readers. By delving into Gadamer's account of meaning as events, this book offers valuable insights into the nature of interpretation, the relationship between language and reality, and the enduring value of cultural heritage.

Weight: 625g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032247984