Martin Heidegger: Hermeneutics and Phenomenology

**Lucem Mundum** · February 04, 2016, 09:24 PM

So recently I became increasingly interested in the ideas of Hermeneutics and Phenomenology (I have thought about over the years, but not as deeply as I do now), mainly from Heidegger's teachings, and books. Anyone else here know about him, or familiar with those concepts? If yes, I would like to hear different ideas and thoughts.

I am actually taking a course in university taught by a student of Heidegger's student. A very enjoyable class, and interesting topics.

**Diamat** · February 05, 2016, 07:07 PM

You have to be a bit more specific. In order for this thread to work, it'd be best to discuss a specific aspect of Heidegger's thought. You should choose that aspect, address the problems, and pose questions.

**Lucem Mundum** · February 06, 2016, 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by Diamat

You have to be a bit more specific. In order for this thread to work, it'd be best to discuss a specific aspect of Heidegger's thought. You should choose that aspect, address the problems, and pose questions.

I just wanted to know if anyone has any ideas or thoughts on those two concepts, but if you want me to be more specific I'll ask, "How is Phenomenology the Hermeneutics of the event, and how is Hermeneutics the Phenomenology of the event?"

**Diamat** · February 07, 2016, 04:45 AM

Can you please elaborate?

**Lucem Mundum** · February 07, 2016, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by Diamat

Can you please elaborate?

To be more specific, How do both Phenomenology and Hermeneutics reinforce each others, and how can we as beings make use of them in our everyday life?

**Diamat** · February 07, 2016, 09:43 PM

Phenomenology itself is such a broad notion. It includes a multitude of philosophers with differing views. Hermeneutics can be considered to be a type of phenomenology. How can we make use of phenomenology in everyday life? Well, that depends on the philosopher. One option would be the relativistic path, deconstructing the various constructs that constitute the phenomenal world, with the ultimate purpose being a critique of the existing and the good contained therein. I personally detest this type of phenomenology and the conclusions derived therefrom. Instead I prefer Hegel's phenomenology, because it returns into union with the existing rather than simply rejecting it.

**Lucem Mundum** · February 07, 2016, 10:06 PM

Yeah phenomenology is indeed a broad topic, but it all roots back to the state of being-in-the-world. This concept is about how we perceive the phenomenons around us through our sensations to understand and make sense of them, and then bring up the concept of Hermeneutics to interpret (make thoughts and ideas about the phenomenons you experienced through the mind) the phenomenons. So without Phenomenology Hermeneutics doesn't exist because the mind can't live without the body.

**Diamat** · February 07, 2016, 10:50 PM

Well, broadly speaking, phenomenology is simply the study of phenomena. "Being-in-the-world" is a concept specific to Heidegger's philosophy.

And I think it is a bit misleading to talk about perceiving "phenomena around us through our sensations." The sensation (Empfindung) is itself already a phenomenon (Erscheinung). It is the most immediate type of phenomenon. This sensational process is what Hegel calls the soul (die Seele), the lowest stage of mind. The actual perception of this phenomenon (of sensation) is a already a higher stage of mind, which is accomplished through a sort of self-negation. Man has left this immediate unity with nature and freed himself from his immediate situation, though this unity remains within him at all times; it has simply been sublated (aufgehoben).