Herder's Hermeneutics

Through a detailed study of Herder''s Enlightenment thought especially his philosophy of literature Kristin Gjesdal offers a new and sometimes provocative reading of the historical origins and contemporary challenges of modern hermeneutics. She shows that hermeneutic philosophy grew out of a historical anthropological and poetic discourse in the mid-eighteenth century and argues that as such it represents a rich stimulating and relevant engagement with the potentials and limits of human meaning and understanding. Gjesdal''s study broadens our conception of hermeneutic philosophy - the issues it raises and the answers it offers - and underlines the importance of Herder''s contribution to the development of this discipline. Her book will be highly valuable for students and scholars of eighteenth-century thought especially those working in the fields of hermeneutics aesthetics and European philosophy.