Study On Gadamer's Truth Idea

Understanding is not just one of the various possible behaviours of the subject, but the mode of being of There-being itself. It denotes the basic being-in-motion of There-being, so understanding happens to us over and above our wanting and doing. It is never subjective behaviour toward a given "object", but belongs to the being of that which is understood. In this sense, based on understanding, hermeneutical truth is a kind of ontological truth.The traditional truth theory, which is based on the separation of "the subject and object", is a kind of epistemological truth. Gadamer developed this truth concept from epistemology to ontology. The truth can not be acquired by using methods to master the object, otherwise, the truth is a creating meaning by itself in the course of "the subject and object" mutual function. So the truth is not the universal science knowledge but the personal one of fitting survival. Gadamer shifted the truth concept to all branches of the human sciences and turned the truth into paying attention to the human being's survival. This truth concept is a wisdom in essence, which leads the people to correctly living in the present and rationally projecting the future.There are two essential changes in Gadamer's truth idea: First, From the traditionally epistemological truth to ontological truth. It helps us to break the idea that the scientific knowledge with accurate and objective nature is the unique truth and provide the legal base for different human subjects. Second, endowing the truth concept with the meanings of ethic. The truth, which is the practical wisdom about solidarity, peace, tolerance and so on, is consistent with the life of human spirits.This thesis consists three parts. The first part, studying on the precondition of the ontological truth and the path to the ontological truth and the bound of the ontological truth. The second part, analyzing the logic course from theoretical truth to applying truth and developing the ancient Greece phronesis concept and discussing the value and significance of "practice is the condition of social ration ". The third part, based on the history of truth and method, commenting the main points about the transcendency of the traditional truth and method by Gadamer and his defects.