From Play to Dialogue: Interpretation of the Concept of “Application” in Gadamer’s “Truth and Method”

• Main Authors: Sheng- Yu Peng, 彭盛有
• Other Authors: Jing-Jong Luh
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2007
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/70962565927678850848

碩士 === 中原大學 === 宗教研究所 === 95 === Abstract The main issue of this research is the Concept of “Application” of Hans-Georg Gadamer’s Philosophical Hermeneutics. According to ancient hermeneutics, particularly, the practice of legal and theological, Gadamer emphasized the fundamental function of the “application” in hermeneutics. In this research, trying to clarify the inner relation of “theory and practice”, “situation and application” from the ontological context to comprehend the concept of application. Adopting historic context to understand “application” concept, elaborate the understanding of limited existence of human being, and prove the function of “application” concept is indeed revealed in the concept of effective-history. From the context of hermeneutics, particularly the concept of Aristotle’s phronesis, to recover the original position of application concept. Lastly, from the concrete display of language of application concept to explore the revelation of truth in the dialectic of question and answer. However, in the text of the concept of “Application” in Gadamer’s Truth and Method, compare with the exploration to legal hermeneutics, it seemed that Gadamer addressed a lot less on theological hermeneutics; and while expounded the application concept in the understanding of hermeneutics, he placed and orientated theological and legal hermeneutics on the same theoretical level. The writer hence raised questions: Is it tends to flatten theological hermeneutics? And what are the reasons for it? Are there any unspoken incompleteness in application concept statements of theological hermeneutics in Gadamer’s hermeneutic philosophical thinking? What exactly can the connection of understanding of bible reading and faith practice under hermeneutics thread of thought originated from the theological hermeneutics developed since the pietism provide some sorts of originally new horizon in the philosophical hermeneutics thinking? That is in response to the above questions, the Christian theological hermeneutic provided an ultimate answer- The only way to find out is by means of “the son of God”, “Word”, and “Speech”. “In Christ”, the Word is contained within, human being come to know the being in the speech of Word; isn’t it the concrete display of the circumincession of inner and external way within Gadamer’s hermeneutic philosophical thinking. As for understanding and seeking for the truth, the Incarnation of Jesus Christ descended to live among us demonstrated the connection of universality and particularity, it also filled up the understanding defect of the historic limitation of the existence of human being. Is this the true understanding experience of the existence of human being and the complete display of practice character in hermeneutics experience structured in Gadamer’s philosophical hermeneutics? In another word, is this the most complete and concrete demonstration of understanding the concept of application that the writer tried to explore in the research? Or, Jesus Christ’s words, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but by me. (John 14:6)” can integrate the ontological, historic, and dialectic context within the concept of application; furthermore, participate in the real life, work out a creative way to understanding pilgrimage journey by adopting dialectic of question and answer with “others”.