Research On Umberto Eco’s Hermeneutics Theory

No matter in the East or the West,the interpretation problem is an unavoidable problem in any occasion,therefore,the research of the hermeneutics theory has been continuing.Umberto Eco is a theorist with theory and practice at the same time.His research of hermeneutics theory is relatively in line with the actual situation,and he has a relatively creative development of the dialectical relationship among the reader,the author and the text.This paper attempts to make a systematic exposition of Eco’s hermeneutics theory,in order to have a dialogue with Chinese hermeneutics,and to find some meaningful enlightenment for the construction of Chinese hermeneutics.Therefore,this paper will be divided into four chapters,the arrangement is as follows:The first chapter discusses Eco’s art theory of “the open works”.By tracing the theoretical origin of the formation of the art theory of “the open works”--Peirce’s semiotics,this paper discusses Eco’s development of Peirce’s semiotics,and the connection of the hermeneutics theory through the model of“encyclopedia”.On the basis,this paper introduces Eco’s art theory of “the open works”,from the context of its appearance and the connection and application of important concepts in information theory,then expounds the theoretical connotation,different categories and characteristics of “the open works”.The second chapter introduces the limitation of Eco’s hermeneutics theory.In this chapter,the first section discusses the reasons for “over-interpretation”,that is,the role of the reader is exaggerated infinitely,and the meaning of the text is always floating;At the same time,the paper discussed the debate on the concept of “over-interpretation”in the West and China.The second section introduces Eco’s three intentions to construct a reasonable hermeneutics--“text’s intention”,“author’s intention”,and “reader’s intention”,and discusses their meanings and development.The third chapter discusses the meaning of the text pursued by Eco,which is a kind of textual relativity meaning beyond objectivism and relativism.In this chapter,the first section explores the opposition between objectivism and relativism in philosophy and hermeneutics.Then,by comparing the previous“circulation of interpretation” with Eco’s “circulation of interpretation”.The second section reveals Eco’s thought about the dialectical interaction among reader,author and text.At the same time,it refutes those who think that there is a paradox between Eco’s openness and finiteness.Finally,according to the previous analysis,it is concluded that the meaning of the text pursued by Eco’s hermeneutics theory is a relativistic meaning beyond objectivism and relativism.The last chapter of this paper is to comment on Eco’s hermeneutics theory.The first section discusses the Enlightenment of Eco’s hermeneutics theory to the construction of Chinese hermeneutics theory.In this section,this paper first sorts out the history and current situation of the construction of Chinese hermeneutics theory,and then conducts a dialogue between “ ontology interpretation ”,“ public interpretation” and Eco’s hermeneutics theory,which has aroused hot discussions in recent years,and attempt to find some meaningful enlightenment for the construction of Chinese interpretation theory.The second section of this chapter discusses some problems existing in the specific interpretation activities in China,and then by absorbing the meaningful parts of Eco’s hermeneutics theory to overcome the interpretation anxiety caused by these problems,and to get some practical significance of Eco’s hermeneutics theory.The third section of this chapter discusses the shortcomings of Eco’s hermeneutics theory and reflects on the limitations in order to view the western theory comprehensively and objectively.