PHIL31040 Philosophy of Interpretation

Academic Year 2024/2025

What philosophical issues are raised in expressing, translating and understanding? Can we even perceive things without interpreting them? What are the best ways to understand the works of other cultures and epochs, and why? Is the interpreter passive and neutral before the text, or always active and creative? How should we evaluate creative interpretations? In this module such questions will be considered by way of an historical and critical introduction to the movements of hermeneutics and deconstruction. These collectively comprise the philosophy of interpretation in recent European philosophy. We begin with the foundations of hermeneutics laid by Schleiermacher and Dilthey, proceed to its development in the phenomenologies of Husserl and Heidegger, and conclude with its post-phenomenological variants in the work of Ricoeur, Derrida and Cassin.

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Curricular information is subject to change

Learning Outcomes:

A clear and wide-ranging comprehension of the most salient concepts in European philosophy of interpretation. An ability to place the relevant movements within the philosophical tradition that they develop on and criticise. An ability to report and analyse critically the major arguments advanced within and between the major strands of philosophy of interpretation. An understanding of the weaknesses and of the strengths and contemporary relevance of these strands.

Indicative Module Content:

Explanation, Interpretation and Understanding. Hermeneutics and the specific character of the human sciences. Phenomenology and expression and indication, perception and temporality. Existential phenomenology and circumspective perception and pre-understanding. Philosophical hermeneutics, deconstruction and the philosophy of translation.

Student Effort Hours: 
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

22
Tutorial

10
Autonomous Student Learning

168
Total

200
Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Formal lectures. Stated availability for and encouragement of questions immediately before, during and immediately after the lectures and during office hours. Weekly tutorials with organised discussions. The general philosophical aims beyond the specific learning outcomes are to provide a sympathetic understanding of and a critical attitude to the philosophical topics considered. 
Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Incompatibles:
PHIL30280 - Philosophy of Interpretation


 
Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Open Book Exam Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade
Assignment(Including Essay): One in-term essay of 2,000-2,500 words, amounting to 33% of the final grade. The submission deadline will ordinarily be in Week 9 of the First Semester. n/a Graded No

33
Exam (In-person): One formal in-person examination of two hours duration, with two questions to be answered. One question must be attempted from Section A and the other attempted from Section B. n/a Graded No

67

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 
Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 
Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback will be offered to students after grading of essays, indicating strengths and weaknesses and how to remedy them. There will also be availability for feedback after the formal in-person examination.