Since the beginning of the 19 th century, it has been cast as a general account of the conditions for the possibility of understanding. To understand is to explicate or to represent the meaning of a phenomenon. Hermeneutics then is an account of the nature and limits of understanding-meaning. The hermeneutical tradition is quite diverse. The class will begin with a historical overview of hermeneutics intended to articulate a working understanding of hermeneutics.
Deconstruction is a Socratic gadfly on the rump of the hermeneutical project.
After the historical overview of hermeneutics, we will look at the challenge posed by deconstruction. The student will have the opportunity to 1. Gain an overview of the history and the theoretical positions within hermeneutics today. Begin to develop the student's own views on hermeneutics. Students are expected to attend class regularly.