TO WHAT EXTENT IS AND TO WHAT EXTENT IT IS NOT HERMENEUTIC PHILOSOPHY A PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY
TO WHAT EXTENT IS AND TO WHAT EXTENT IT IS NOT HERMENEUTIC PHILOSOPHY A PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY

Summary/Abstract: The purpose of the present text is to examine to what extent is and to what extent it is not hermeneutic philosophy a practical philosophy. The late writings of Gadamer on philosophical hermeneutics refer to it as practical philosophy. In fact, Gadamer argues that philosophical hermeneutics can be considered practical philosophy. It seems that the main concept on which hermeneutical philosophy can be consider practical philosophy is that of “phronesis”. However, I will argue, firstly, that phronesis is only a model for the problem of hermeneutics due to its central concept - application. Secondly, I will argue that philosophical hermeneutics can be considered practical philosophy as long as we appeal to the guiding concepts of human sciences, i.e. tact, bildung, sensus communis, judgment, taste. Thus, the main thesis of the present text is that philosophical hermeneutics is practical philosophy as long as we understand that the guiding concepts that makes it possible are a way of knowing and a mode of being. Evidently, the implied paradox is that philosophical hermeneutics as practical philosophy cannot be learned, deduced or constructed but only given. To a certain extent the present text answers to a simple question: how can we practice practical philosophy?

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