deepstash
Beta
The hermeneutic circle: a key to critical reading
We often forget that our interpretation of a text is influenced by our preexisting beliefs, knowledge and expectations.
Hermeneutics theory describes the method and interpretation of a text. The hermeneutic circle encourages us to read in the context of a cultural, historical, and literary context and with our own personal context.
163 SAVES
SIMILAR ARTICLES & IDEAS:
8
Key Ideas
They require an ability to be able to understand two or more languages and accurately express the content and information in the other language.
Translations need not be binary, but sho...
Translation and interpretation work well if it is the native language of the translators and it is essential to recognize the cultures of both the source and target languages, in order to fully adopt the content.
While both translation and interpretation have the same purpose: making the information or content accessible in another language, there is one major difference.
Translation is done in a written format, while interpretation is oral. Translators, therefore, are excellent writers, while interpreters have great communication skills.
4
Key Ideas
Historical context deals with the details of the time and place surrounding memories, stories, and characters.
The details enable us to interpret and analyze works of the ...
Historical context is important when interpreting behavior and speech.
For example: "Sally hid her hands behind her back and crossed her fingers before she answered." It sounds innocent on its own. However, reading it as a statement from a transcript during the 1692 Salem Witch Trials will make you realize that she was a candidate for the gallows.
We cannot fully appreciate or understand a work of literature without context.
Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" cannot be fully understood if the reader is unaware of the Romantic movement in the early 19th century. The lives of Europeans were transformed by the technological disruptions of the Industrial Age. The Romantics captured the public's sense of isolation and fear that many experienced. Knowing this backdrop changes "Frankenstein" into an allegory for how technology can destroy us.
9
Key Ideas
The basic rules that we need to apply:
Hanlon’s razor is a potent mental model which can be used in any situation where our first instinct is a negative assumption. Any wrong hypothesis related to the bad intentions of others is counterproductive and can play havoc in our lives.