The Hermetic Thought In Hermeneutics

The thesis begins by discussing the dispute between Eco and Rorty. It is grounded on the analysis framework characterized by hermetic theory and analyzes the root of hermeticism in hermeneutics. Through a detailed analysis of the irrational and rational views of interpretation in the contemporary world, it elucidates that both views of interpretation are affected by hermeticism. The upsurge of deconstructionism has caused the interpretive confusion and crisis; it lays too much stress on linguistic features of text and neglects the coherence and some other important characteristics of text, giving the right to the readers to read the text in an unconstrained way. And, in many fields of study, scholars endeavor indefatigably to search the deep structure beneath the complicated superficial phenomena and repeated models, pursuing the essence beneath the essence.Attention is concentrated on the two clues of the contemporary hermeticism, that is, the irrational mode and the rational mode. The chief contents include:1. The interpretive viewpoint of Derrida and Rorty holds that interpreters can find endless relationship in a text. The texts in the construction of readers are always coherent. The same is true with the text in Roland's eye, which equally emphasizes the free imagination and deduction of reading.2. Husserl's viewpoint of interpretation endlessly pursues the essence beneath the phenomena. Chomsky endeavors to study the universal property and general structure of language. Nevertheless, beneath the essence still exists another essence. Therefore, it is also an endless process of regress.Finally, the thesis points out that either irrational mode or rational mode of interpretation, either numberless discursive connections or endless probing inquiries, they follow the step of hermeticism. How to prevent each of them from falling into the trap of hermeticism? First we should give sufficient attention to Eco's idea that there are always limitations for interpretation and the conditions Eco proposes for right interpretations are worth considering. Second, Apel's notion of "the language communication community" may be a solution to overcome hemeticism in interpretation. As members of the language communication community, we always follow conventions formed in the history of language use. We do not need to go back to look for the essence and source ahead of language. There is no need to search for the basis from the world outside the language. The same is true with the text interpretation. Apel's notion of "the language communication community" casts off the ceaseless pursuit of the essence and origin, thus being significant for getting rid of hermeticism in hermeneutics.