C A Very ShortjintrbdiJctiq 'An excellent introduction to tha human activities, the attempt to KeyJgure;s;i^ application of their ideas in vario : 'shown what it means to think h invited to do so as wel I.' Fr. John Behr, Dean Jens Zimmermann"' This very readable and much ne breaks new ground in that it is the first to demonstrate, with insight, wit and a trove of illuminating examples, the importance of hermeneutics in all fields of knowledge.' HERMENEUTICS A Very Short Introduction 9780199685356 4240779580 r-bfne^paR^^f^!es>'Books, political "Ipeech.e^^^iferand even d)nner_ '■''"c6iT\^^S^^BS\^aFcbnsth:Qtes"'the j "--proG'ess.of. (interpretation?-: And: ho W:.db. -^1^===^ - we draw meaning from the world around • us so that we might-understand-our^ . position in it? /. .• - ■ ., : In this Very Short Introduction Jens__________- Zimmermann introduces the reader to the branch of knowledge that deals with interpretation. Tracing the history d^;.:.-^. hermeneutic theory, he-se1s:out it^key^;^^ elements and shows how they can be applied to a broad range of disciplines: theology, literature, law, the natural and the human sciences. Demonstrating the longstanding and wide-ranging necessity of interpretation. Zimmermann reveals- Ústřední knihovna FSS MU Brno 4240779580 Hermeneutics: A Very 5hort introduction . The Introduction clearly points to the major issues involved in hermeneutics. Jens Zimmermann writes excellently for a wide audience and the references to texting and to digital worlds gives it a contemporary feel.' Graham Ward, Regius Professor of Divinity, Christ Church Oxford, Director of Graduate Studies 'Zimmermann offers one of the best short introductions to modern hermeneutics. The writing is at all times concise, clear and engaging. The author brilliantly evaluates the riches of this major intellectual tradition as well as revealing its ongoing creative influence on contemporary thought." Richard Kearney, Charles Seelig.Professor at Boston College and author of Anatheism and Carnal Hermeneutics 4240779580 OXFORD university press Great Clarendon Street, Oxford, 0X2 6DP, United Kingdom Oxford University Press is a. department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide. Oxford is a registered trade mark of Oxford University Press in the UK and in certain other countries © Jens Zimmermann 2015 The moral rights of the author have been asserted First edition published in 2015 Impression: 3 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in tiny form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of Oxford University Press, or as expressly permitted by law, by licence or under terms agreed with the appropriate reprographics rights organization. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the above should be sent to the Rights Department, Oxford University Press, at the address above You must not circulate this work in any other form and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer Published in the United States of America by Oxford University Press 198 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, United States of America British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Data available Library of Congress Control Number: 2015939572 ISBN S7B-0-1S-5S8535-6 Printed in Great Britain by Ashford Colour Press Ltd, Gosport, Hampshire Links to third party websites are provided by Oxford in good faith and for information only. Oxford disclaims any responsibility for the materials contained in any third party website referenced in this work. ' * .in ----■—„ (ill. l-.ova Hi Contents JL Preface xiii List of illustrations xv 1 What is hermeneutics? 1 2 Hermeneutics: a brief history 19 3 Philosophical hermeneutics 39 4 Hermeneutics and the humanities 57 5 Hermeneutics and theology 72 6 Hermeneutics and law 98 7 Hermeneutics and science 116 Appendix 133 References 143 Further reading 147 Index .151 Preface This book is designed to accomplish two things. The first aim is to introduce the non-specialist reader to the idea of hermeneutics as a philosophical school of thought. To familiarize the reader with the discipline of philosophical hermeneutics, I have sketched its historical origins, presented its most important thinkers, and outlined its main claims. The second aim is to show that hermeneutics is a defining trait of our humanity and is foundational to every field of human knowledge. To this end, I have traced the intrinsic role interpretation plays in philosophy, theology, art, law, and science. Writing a short—indeed very short—introduction requires selection, and selection necessitates exclusion, My choice to show how hermeneutics works meant neglecting some theoretical issues and debates in favour of interpretive practices and concrete examples. Thus the reader familiar with hermeneutics will miss some standard critiques of hermeneutics by Emilio Betti, Karl-Otto Apel, Jiirgen Habermas, and Paul Ricoeur, or the (mis) appropriation of hermeneutics for pragmatism by Richard Rorty. Instead, I chose to include the broader summary criticism that hermeneutics entails relativism. Those interested in a brief overview of the main philosophical debates about hermeneutics should consult the Appendix, which is written in a more condensed, academic style than the rest of the book. In addition, the Further reading section will direct interested readers to two very good, more conventional introductions to philosophical hermeneutics. My decision to focus on the practical implications of hermeneutics also influenced topical choices within each knowledge discipline. Thus in theology, for example, I omitted debates between philosophy and theology to focus instead on the connection between theories of inspiration and the nature of the text, which determine interpretive practices. For the same reason, in the law chapter, I have chosen to focus on practical interpretive issues drawn from broader public debates rather than focus on exchanges between legal philosophers. When writing this book, I had in mind both interested general readers who have never heard of hermeneutics, and those of my academic colleagues who are looking for an introductory text that will help their students grasp the essential nature and claims of hermeneutics. Consultation with both general readers and colleagues was essential to the writing of this book. I dedicate this book to my wife Sabine, whose patient reading, merciless cutting, and constructive criticism greatly improved its quality. I also owe much thanks to Jean Grondin, John Behr, Stephen Dunning, and Robert Doede for commenting on the manuscript. The Very Short Introduction editorial team and external readers were also extremely helpful in shaping this introduction to hermeneutics. All remaining faults are, as always, the authors responsibility. List of illustrations Hermes, messenger of the gods, as depicted on a Greek vase c.500-450 bce 4 Image copyright The Metropolitan Museum of Art / Art Resource / Scola, Florence Communication and interpretation 10 © Handy Glnsbergun / <^v\vw.glttsberg(!n. com> The Inspiration of St Matthew (1602) by Caravaggio 78 The; Art Archive / Mondadori Portfolio / Electa Icon depicting the importance of scripture and interpretive tradition 87 Russian art: Redeemer Enthroned. Vatican, Pinacoteca. © 2015. Photo Scda, Florence 3 Questioning vision as a metaphor for knowing 46 © Hans Mailer / 4 Texting gone wrong 58 Ralph Hagen / Cartoonstock.com 5 A medieval depiction of the prophet Muhammad 76 The archangel revealed to the prophet Muhammad from the 8th surah Df the 'Quran', page of the 'Siyar-i-Nabi', 1594-5, Turkey (literary text] (gouache and gold on paper) / Louvre, Paris, France / Bridgomnn Images 8 Martin Luther, translating the Bible into German while hiding in the Wartburg 92 petdrvidd67/123RF 9 Lady Justice (Justitia), blindfolded 100 Brandon Bourdages / 123RF 10 Lady Justice (Justitia) with the Bible 101 Miciial Manns / WUcimedin commons 11 legislating from the bench 112 Conde Nast Collection xfv