Review article

Theology and the Challenge of Philosophical Hermeneutics

Davor Vuković orcid.org/0000-0002-3496-2334 ; Catholic Faculty of Theology, Đakovo, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Đakovo, Croatia

Abstract

In this article the author deals with the richness of philosophical hermeneutics and its ability to challenge theology. The author endeavours to portray the significance of the hermeneutics concept. Hermeneutics has, namely, surpassed its exclusively methodological-helpful aspect which it had in the course of history. In modern times it has gained philosophical status, its starting point being the universality of the phenomenon of understanding and interpretation. Philosophical hermeneutics has also rediscovered the constitutive significance of historicity, intersubjectivity, tradition, languageness and dialogue for the whole of human understanding and experience. The author mentions the risk of relativism in hermeneutics and points out that hermeneutics and metaphysics, in light of their significance for theology, stand in a complementary relationship. Finally, the author points out the possibility (and necessity) of characterizing theology as hermeneutics, or rather the vision of theology as hermeneutics. This is not a question of using philosophical hermeneutics as a helping discipline, rather of adopting hermeneutics internally and discovering it as a dimension of theology as a whole.

Keywords

philosophical hermeneutics; theology; historicity; understanding; interpretation; relativism; metaphysics

Hrčak ID:

110525

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/110525

Publication date:

13.11.2013.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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