The contribution of Hans-Georg Gadamer to the development of a Christian philosophy
The aim of the thesis is in Part One to give a critical exposition of the foundations of Gadamer's philosophy, and in Part Two to show how that philosophy can contribute to a Christian philosophy. Part One outlines Gadamer's interpretation of Heidegger's analysis of the 'fore-structure~ of Understanding and the former's development of that analysis with his own analysis of ~effective-historical consciousness~ and his positive understanding of prejudice. Gadamer understands Understanding as a mode of experience and resists any attempt by reflection to elevate experience into knowledge; he wants Hegel's ~science of the experience of consciousness~ without his Absolute Knowledge. He also wants knowledge and truth without the totality which would guarantee them, and believes that Heidegger's ~ontologically positive~ understanding of finitude allows this. We try to show the difficulties of such a position, and also of his attempt to guarantee truth with the ~speculative structure~ of language. Finally we question the grounding of his philosophy in the aesthetic experience testified to by the ~other side~ of the Platonic doctrine of Beauty. In Part Two we suggest that religious experience provides a more adequate
Gray, William Nelson
Philosophy
The contribution of Hans-Georg Gadamer to the development of a Christian philosophy. The aim of the thesis is in Part One to give a critical exposition of the foundations of Gadamer's philosophy, and in Part Two to show how that philosophy can contribute to a Christian philosophy. Part One outlines Gadamer's interpretation of Heidegger's analysis of the 'fore-structure~ of Understanding and the former's development of that analysis with his own analysis of ~effective-historical consciousness~ and his positive understanding of prejudice. Gadamer understands Understanding as a mode of experience and resists any attempt by reflection to elevate experience into knowledge; he wants Hegel's ~science of the experience of consciousness~ without his Absolute Knowledge. He also wants knowledge and truth without the totality which would guarantee them, and believes that Heidegger's ~ontologically positive~ understanding of finitude allows this. We try to show the difficulties of such a position, and also of his attempt to guarantee truth with the ~speculative structure~ of language. Finally we question the grounding of his philosophy in the aesthetic experience testified to by the ~other side~ of the Platonic doctrine of Beauty. In Part Two we suggest that religious experience provides a more adequate
hans_georg_gadamer development christian philosophy aim part_one give critical exposition foundation gadamer philosophy part_two show philosophy contribute christian philosophy part_one outline gadamer interpretation heidegger analysis fore structure former development analysis analysis effective historical_consciousness positive prejudice gadamer understand mode experience resists attempt reflection elevate experience knowledge want hegel science experience consciousness without absolute knowledge also want knowledge truth without totality would guarantee believe heidegger ontologically positive finitude allow this try_show difficulty position also attempt guarantee truth speculative structure language finally question ground philosophy aesthetic_experience testify other side platonic doctrine beauty part_two suggest religious_experience provide_adequate