Autonomous vs. Heteronomous



Hermeneutics:systematic investigation of interpretation where interpretation is the practice of finding meaning

Hermeneutic Autonomy:the individual determines meaning for himself

Hermeneutic Heteronomy:the investigation of interpretation is left to others and they explain or tell it to you

Hermeneutic Circle: A paradox that arises when one goes about the systematic investigation of interpretation. In order to understand the whole of that which we investigate we must first understand the parts, but to understand the parts we must first understand the whole. We can't understand the whole without the parts and we can't understand the parts without the whole. How can we break this cycle and enter upon the Hermeneutic Circle?