Phil4220W Hermeneutics
Spring 2011
1. Learning Outcomes: The aim of this course is to
examine critically the historical development of the discipline of
hermeneutics. Hermeneutics is the art
and theory of interpretation. We will
investigate various approaches to interpretation as presented by philosophers
ranging from Schleiermacher through Heidegger to Ricoeur. By the end of the semester students will be
able to:
2. Requirements: The requirements for the
class are sixfold.
a) attendance and class
participation 10%
b) in-class midterm exam 25%
c) Paper abstract with thesis
and outline 5%
d) Paper rough-draft 10%
e) 2100-3000 word paper 25%
f) final exam 25%
In
order to meet these requirements, it will be necessary to attend class
regularly and to do the assigned reading.
It will be evident if you have not done the reading and this will not be
beneficial to your success in the course.
Papers absolutely will not be accepted after the due date unless you
have discussed it with me prior to the due date. No paper will be accepted if a rough draft
was not handed in.
Primarily, your term paper
should be focused on a text or texts that we have discussed in class. The goal is for you to express your own
understanding and analysis of a text or texts.
If you want to do research into secondary sources, the best way to do so
is to consult the Philosopher’s Index to see what kinds of articles might have
been published that would be pertinent to your issue. I would highly recommend that you not rely on
the Web to get information on your issue.
Web sources are notoriously unreliable and can often be overly
simplistic in their presentation of any philosophical view. Scholarly articles and
books are the best sources to consult.
Be sure that if you consult any secondary sources that you cite those
sources. Failure to do so can have dire
results.
The Department of English and Philosophy defines
plagiarism as taking personal credit for the thinking of others as it is
presented in electronic, print, and verbal sources. The Department expects that students will
accurately credit sources in all assignments.
Plagiarism is grounds for failing the course and may result in further
consequences of being expelled from the University.
Any student wishing to receive honors credit for this course must
get the approval of the professor and complete all the necessary paperwork
within the first two weeks of class. No honors forms will be signed after this
point.
3. Availability: I am available outside of
class during office hours, or by appointment.
If there are questions or problems, do not hesitate to see me.
Hours:
M, W, F 9:00-10:00a.m., M,W, F 12:00-1:00pm
Office:
TLC2230
Phone:
678-839-4743
e-mail:
jdonohoe@westga.edu
4. Book List: The books listed below should be available in
the bookstore. Course readings will also
be made available through the library Docutek system. Password: Hermeneutics.
The
Hermeneutics Reader ed.Kurt
Mueller-Vollmer
Truth
and Method Hans-Georg
Gadamer
Docutek:
“Whose
Home is it Anyway? A Feminist Response to Gadamer’s Hermeneutics” by Robin
Schott
“Gadamer’s
Hermeneutics and the Question of Authorial Intention” by David Weberman
“The
Originalism Debate: A Guide for the Perplexed” by Daniel Farber
“What
is an Author?” by Michel Foucault
“The
Artowrk in Word and Image—‘So true, so full of being!’ (Goethe)” by Hans-Georg
Gadamer
“Hermeneutics
and the Critique of Ideology” by Paul Ricoeur
5 Introduction.
Discussion of themes. Biblical
Hermeneutics, Legal Hermeneutics, Aesthetic Hermeneutics.
7 What is Hermeneutics?
10 Class
cancelled
12 Class
cancelled
14 Class
cancelled
17 MLK Day—No Classes
19 Schleiermacher HR 72-85
21 Schleiermacher HR 86-97
24 Schleiermacher
26 Husserl HR 165-186
28 Husserl
31 Husserl
February
2 Heidegger HR 214-227
4 Heidegger
7 Heidegger HR 228-240
9 Heidegger
11 Bultmann HR 241-248
14 Butlmann HR
16 Gadamer TM 265-276
18 Gadamer TM 277-306
21 Gadamer TM
23 Gadamer TM
25 Gadamer TM 307-323
28 Gadamer TM
March
2 Gadamer TM324-341
4 Midterm Exam
7-13 Spring Break
14 Gadamer TM 362-380
16 Gadamer TM
18 Gadamer TM
21 Schott “Whose Home is it Anyway?”
23 Schott
25 Ricoeur “Hermeneutics and the Critique of
Ideology”
28 Ricoeur (Abstract and Outline Due)
30 Weberman “Gadamer’s Hermeneutics and the Question
of Authorial Intent”
2 Weberman
4 Weberman (Rough Draft Due)
7 Foucault “What is an Author?”
9 Foucault
11 Farber “The Originalism Debate”
14 Farber
16 Scalia TBD
18 Scalia (Paper Due)
21 Scalia
23 Gadamer “The Artwork in Word and Image”
25 Gadamer
28 Review
Final
exam is Wednesday, May 4, 11am-1pm.