Asghar Vaezi; Faeze Fazeli
Volume 9, Issue 2 , March 2012, , Pages 59-86
Abstract
Gadamer considers understanding as an event which is the result of the fusion of horizon of interpreter and horizon of the text. From his point of view, understanding has a fundamental ...
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Gadamer considers understanding as an event which is the result of the fusion of horizon of interpreter and horizon of the text. From his point of view, understanding has a fundamental connection with the concept of horizon and in fact horizon is the central point in the process of understanding. Horizon for Nietzsche is a limiting concept which is not able to be transitive. Husserl draws his attention on developing and the opening feature of horizon. Horizon consists of all co-given that has not been given in intuition, however in percepting of an object plays a fundamental role.
Like Nietzsche, Gadamer believes in the limiting role of horizon, though like Husserl believes in the possibility of development and openness of horizon. In his point of view, prejudices as internal horizon and historicity of Man as external horizon, are effective in constructing the understanding as well as limiting it.
Unlike enlightenment thinkers, Gadamer not only does not consider prejudice as an obstacle of understanding but also believes that prejudice is the condition of any understanding. Understanding is historical. It is the result of effect of history on the Man. In Gadamer’s view, tradition or prejudice, history, and language are the main factors which play a role on the constitution of interpreter’s horizon and limiting his prospective.
