Gadamer: A Guide for the Perplexed
Understanding the complexities of Gadamer's philosophical ideas
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Published:24th May '06
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This guide provides an accessible exploration of Gadamer's philosophical hermeneutics, clarifying complex concepts and their implications for modern thought.
This insightful book offers a comprehensive account of Gadamer's hermeneutics, delving into the intricacies of his philosophical concepts. Key terms such as 'fusion of horizons', 'effective historical consciousness', and 'the logic of question and answer' are thoroughly examined. Additionally, the text explores Gadamer's redefinitions of essential ideas like 'prejudice', 'authority', and 'tradition', providing readers with a clearer understanding of these complex notions.
Gadamer: A Guide for the Perplexed serves as an invaluable resource for students and readers who find philosophical texts challenging. The book is part of the Continuum's Guides for the Perplexed series, which aims to clarify difficult subjects by focusing on their key themes and ideas. Through its accessible approach, this guide helps readers navigate the often opaque language of philosophical discourse, ensuring they gain a confident grasp of Gadamer's work.
As one of the foremost European philosophers of the modern era, Hans-Georg Gadamer's contributions to philosophical hermeneutics are monumental. His magnum opus, Truth and Method, is a landmark text that has shaped contemporary philosophy. This guide not only addresses the complexities of Gadamer's ideas but also discusses his influence on other philosophical domains, the responses from fellow philosophers, and criticisms related to relativism. This makes Gadamer: A Guide for the Perplexed an essential companion for anyone eager to engage with Gadamer's profound insights.
"Chris Lawn, Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Limerick, has written the best introduction to the work and life of Hans-Georg Gadamer so far. It admirably fulfils the task of Continuum's series, Guides for the Perplexed, of offering ‘clear, concise and accessible introductions to thinkers, writers and subjects that students and readers can find especially challenging - or, indeed, downright bewildering', but it is much more than that...It is amazing that Lawn, who apparently never met Gadamer, has such as acute understanding of the man and his thought - something that Gadamer himself, who really disliked the biographical approach, would have very much appreciated. In fact, one of the qualities of the book is that it is truly hermeneutical and indeed Gadamerian, oriented, as such a book should be, towards understanding. Perhaps Lawn's combination of sympathy and distance was ideal for this task. The book is very well written and pedagogically masterful; the dutkus is dramatic and interest-stimulating, and the style is elegant, non-verbose and pleasant to read. Throughout, Lawn avoids oversimplifications." -Wolfgang Drechsler, Philosophy in Review, 2007
ISBN: 9780826484628
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 236g
176 pages