Hermeneutic reading of classic texts

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to broaden the understandinfg of the hermeneutic reading of classic texts. The aim is to show how the choice of a specific scientific tradition in conjunction with a methodological approach creates the foundation that clarifies the actual realization of the reading. This hermeneutic reading of classic texts is inspired by Gadamer's notion that it is the researcher's own research tradition and a clearly formulated theoretical fundamental order that shape the researcher's attitude towards texts and create the starting point that guides all reading, uncovering and interpretation. The researcher's ethical position originates in a will to openness towards what is different in the text and which constantly sets the researcher's preunderstanding and research tradition in movement. It is the researcher's attitude towards the text that allows the text to address, touch and arouse wonder. Through a flexible, lingering and repeated reading of classic texts, what is different emerges with a timeless value. The reading of classic texts is an act that may rediscover and create understanding for essential dimensions and of human beings' reality on a deeper level. The hermeneutic reading of classic texts thus brings to light constantly new possibilities of uncovering for a new envisioning and interpretation for a new understanding of the essential concepts and phenomena within caring science.

Listening to the Otherness of the Other: Envisioning Listening Based on a Hermeneutical Reading of Lévinas

“…Edwards (2008) refers to Lévinas's description of hermeneutic reading where the essential is to identify deep structures and uncover the original meaning of the text, since the text bears traces of original voices that transmit to the present what has been said in the past. According to Koskinen and Lindström (2013), it is by posing questions to the text and by allowing the text to speak that the researcher can rest in the text and trust that the text can open up and uncover a new envisioning and different understanding. In accordance with Lévinas's (1985Lévinas's ( , 2003 notion, the basis and validity of knowledge is to welcome new knowledge.…”

“…Lévinas's ethical thought have awakened and commanded a responsibility to submit to the texts and to call ourselves in question in order to give the texts precedence, and through philosophical meditation on the texts justify a new envisioning. It is the researchers' familiarity with their own caring science tradition and its fundamental principles of order that shape their ethical position toward classic texts and reading (Koskinen & Lindström, 2013). Caring science research ethics is linked to evidence through the researcher's responsibility to make the ethics of listening visible in words and actions.…”

“…A characteristic feature of the methodology of hermeneutical reading and method Downloaded by [University of Colorado at Boulder Libraries] at 12:56 03 January 2015 of working is that it is the point of departure in one's own tradition that guides the uncovering, which precedes the interpretation toward a new envisioning (Koskinen & Lindström, 2013). According to How (2011), it is through the researcher's prejudices or tradition that reflection is given its movement and interpretive frame, the tradition provides the light that makes vision possible.…”

“…New understanding is created infinitely, and new sources always reveal unforeseen relations of meaning and new understanding. The methodological approach that guides the reading is described by Koskinen and Lindström (2013) as an individual working method where the researcher as reader takes a position toward the text. Hermeneutic reading is a method of working reminiscent of archaeological research which means that the researcher, through lingering reading, reflects and carefully uncovers in order to reach below the surface of the text which reveals patterns of meaning units or prominent fragments that lead to the deeper layers of knowledge about human beings and the fundamental order of reality.…”

Nurse anaesthetist students' experiences of patient dignity in perioperative practice—a hermeneutic study

“…This process of understanding involved an abstraction of the main themes and the subthemes formed a new understanding, a coherent whole that was considered valid and free from inner contradictions. According to Koskinen and Lindström (), hermeneutic reading is a working method where the researcher “takes a stance towards the text”. The five‐step text interpretation was at first done independently by the researchers.…”