This essay explores Gadamer’s ambivalent relationship with modernity.  Gadamer is a prominent critic of the Enlightenment project.  His criticisms are both theoretical and practical.  Theoretically, representationalism is at the center of modern epistemology for Gadamer.  Practically, Gadamer sees the demotion of prudence (phronesis) as fundamental to the “bad” Enlightenment.  Gadamer’s attempt...

  The purpose of this paper is to look at four important aspects of Vandevelde’s criticisms of Gadamer. First is his position on Gadamer’s claim that his hermeneutics is a “philosophical hermeneutics” and not a methodology. Second is Vandevelde’s view of interpretation as necessarily going back to the author’s intention, and the status of the “mental state” of the author. Is it relevant to int...

this essay explores gadamer’s ambivalent relationship with modernity.  gadamer is a prominent critic of the enlightenment project.  his criticisms are both theoretical and practical.  theoretically, representationalism is at the center of modern epistemology for gadamer.  practically, gadamer sees the demotion of prudence (phronesis) as fundamental to the “bad” enlightenment.  gadamer’s attempt...

the purpose of this paper is to look at four important aspects of vandevelde’s criticisms of gadamer. first is his position on gadamer’s claim that his hermeneutics is a “philosophical hermeneutics” and not a methodology. second is vandevelde’s view of interpretation as necessarily going back to the author’s intention, and the status of the “mental state” of the author. is it relevant to interp...