Hermeneutics from the Inside-Out and the Outside-In—And How Postmodernism Blew It All Wide Open
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Steve Fuller
Abstract
This paper distinguishes the human sciences from the natural sciences in terms of a difference between an ‘inside-out’ and an ‘outside-in’ approach to hermeneutics, the former rendering us empirical geniuses and transcendental dopes and the latter transcendental geniuses and empirical dopes. The social sciences have been the historic testing ground for these two approaches. However, the postmodern condition has blown open this dialectic by challenging the shared assumption that the ‘human’ is a member of Homo sapiens, which had been in place from the second half of the 18th century to the second half of the 20th century. The paper ends by questioning whether hermeneutics is possible in a world where the ‘human’ is so ontologically indeterminate.
Abstract
This paper distinguishes the human sciences from the natural sciences in terms of a difference between an ‘inside-out’ and an ‘outside-in’ approach to hermeneutics, the former rendering us empirical geniuses and transcendental dopes and the latter transcendental geniuses and empirical dopes. The social sciences have been the historic testing ground for these two approaches. However, the postmodern condition has blown open this dialectic by challenging the shared assumption that the ‘human’ is a member of Homo sapiens, which had been in place from the second half of the 18th century to the second half of the 20th century. The paper ends by questioning whether hermeneutics is possible in a world where the ‘human’ is so ontologically indeterminate.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Table of Contents V
- List of Abbreviations IX
- Hermeneutic Philosophies of Social Science: Introduction 1
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I. Science and Method: Towards Hermeneutic Phenomenology of Social Science
- Toward an Interpretative or Hermeneutic Social Science 25
- Quantum Mechanics and the Social Sciences 51
- A Critical Hermeneutics of Agency: Cultural Studies as Critical Social Theory 63
- Overcoming Naturalism from Within: Dilthey, Nature, and the Human Sciences 89
- Hermeneutics from the Inside-Out and the Outside-In—And How Postmodernism Blew It All Wide Open 109
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II. Reflexive and Relational Hermeneutics
- The Sciences of Subjectivity 123
- Studies of Empirical Ontology and Ontological Difference 143
- Hermeneutics and Its Discontents in Philosophy of Science: On Bruno Latour, the “Science Wars”, Mockery, and Immortal Models 163
- On the Importance of Getting Things Straight 189
- Hans-Georg Gadamer’s Concept of the Horizon and Its Ethico-Political Critique 199
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III. Practice and Application: Hermeneutics, Social Theory
- Gadamer’s Hermeneutics as Practical Philosophy 219
- The ‘New’ Sociology of Knowledge 237
- Taking Plurality Seriously with Michel De Certeau: From History to ‘Reception Sociolinguistics’ 267
- Pragmatism and Hermeneutics 287
- Make It Scientific: Theories of Education from Dewey to Gadamer 295
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IV. Truth and Life: Life-Philosophy and History, Psychology and Theology
- The Hermeneutical Human and Social Sciences 315
- Life, Metaphysics, History: Reflections on the Contemporary Relevance of Dilthey’s Philosophy of Life 341
- Four Fundamental Aspects of the Reversal of Platonism 357
- Heidegger: Hermeneutics as “Preparation” for Thinking 373
- Hermeneutic Reflections on Descartes’ Introduction to His Meditations on First Philosophy 387
- List of Contributors 427
- Index 431
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Table of Contents V
- List of Abbreviations IX
- Hermeneutic Philosophies of Social Science: Introduction 1
-
I. Science and Method: Towards Hermeneutic Phenomenology of Social Science
- Toward an Interpretative or Hermeneutic Social Science 25
- Quantum Mechanics and the Social Sciences 51
- A Critical Hermeneutics of Agency: Cultural Studies as Critical Social Theory 63
- Overcoming Naturalism from Within: Dilthey, Nature, and the Human Sciences 89
- Hermeneutics from the Inside-Out and the Outside-In—And How Postmodernism Blew It All Wide Open 109
-
II. Reflexive and Relational Hermeneutics
- The Sciences of Subjectivity 123
- Studies of Empirical Ontology and Ontological Difference 143
- Hermeneutics and Its Discontents in Philosophy of Science: On Bruno Latour, the “Science Wars”, Mockery, and Immortal Models 163
- On the Importance of Getting Things Straight 189
- Hans-Georg Gadamer’s Concept of the Horizon and Its Ethico-Political Critique 199
-
III. Practice and Application: Hermeneutics, Social Theory
- Gadamer’s Hermeneutics as Practical Philosophy 219
- The ‘New’ Sociology of Knowledge 237
- Taking Plurality Seriously with Michel De Certeau: From History to ‘Reception Sociolinguistics’ 267
- Pragmatism and Hermeneutics 287
- Make It Scientific: Theories of Education from Dewey to Gadamer 295
-
IV. Truth and Life: Life-Philosophy and History, Psychology and Theology
- The Hermeneutical Human and Social Sciences 315
- Life, Metaphysics, History: Reflections on the Contemporary Relevance of Dilthey’s Philosophy of Life 341
- Four Fundamental Aspects of the Reversal of Platonism 357
- Heidegger: Hermeneutics as “Preparation” for Thinking 373
- Hermeneutic Reflections on Descartes’ Introduction to His Meditations on First Philosophy 387
- List of Contributors 427
- Index 431
