Text as a Symbol. Towards a Hermeneutics of Recognition Cover Image

Textul ca simbol. Pentru o hermeneutică a recunoașterii
Text as a Symbol. Towards a Hermeneutics of Recognition

Author(s): Cristinel Munteanu
Subject(s): Semiotics / Semiology, Theoretical Linguistics, Semiology, Hermeneutics
Published by: Editura Universitară Danubius
Keywords: symbol; text; meaning; hermeneutics; E. Coseriu; H.G. Gadamer;

Summary/Abstract: In this article I will try to provide some elements for establishing a sui generis hermeneutics, that is a “hermeneutics of recognition”, referring to certain texts considered as symbols. In order to do this, I need to restore the etymological meaning of the term symbol (< O.Gr. symbolon), analysing, first of all, the word as a symbol, as it was defined by Aristotle. In this regard, I will appeal to important thinkers such as Eugenio Coseriu, Hans-Georg Gadamer, José Ortega y Gasset and others. Leaving apart the classic types of texts which were recorded by Liddell & Scott’s Lexicon as symbola (e.g. political or commercial treaties), I will also mention the Christian Credo and I will particularly discuss the famous exchange of letters between Alexander the Great and Aristotle.

  • Issue Year: 16/2022
  • Issue No: 3
  • Page Range: 110-125
  • Page Count: 16
  • Language: Romanian