History of hermeneutics

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First published in Italian in 1988, this work offers a comprehensive reconstruction of the historical development of hermeneutics. The English translation includes an extensive theoretical afterword by the author, making it a significant contribution to philosophy. The scholarship is impressive, engaging with thinkers such as Plato, Vico, Dilthey, Nietzsche, Heidegger, Gadamer, Habermas, and Derrida, while also acknowledging contributions from Reformation philosophers, biblical interpreters of the German Enlightenment, and contemporary theorists. The initial chapters trace the evolution of interpretation from its Greek origins as a technique for transmitting divine messages to the nineteenth century, marked by a heightened awareness of tradition and positivism's influence on interpretation theory. The subsequent chapters explore the universalization of interpretation through Heidegger, the development of philosophical hermeneutics with Gadamer and Derrida, and the connections between hermeneutics, epistemology, and the human sciences. This work is invaluable for philosophers and scholars across various disciplines, including literary studies, cultural studies, religious studies, history, and social sciences. Its clear presentation of hermeneutics' historical development also makes it suitable as a textbook for both introductory and advanced courses.