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Gadamer's Ethics of Play: Hermeneutics and the Other examines the ethical dimensions of understanding by focusing on Gadamer's concept of "play" as it is developed in his magnum opus Truth and Method. Monica Vilhauer argues for the global relevance of play in Gadamer's philosophical hermeneutics by revealing play as the key concept that depicts the process of all understanding―that is, the dynamic, dialogical, and interpretive process by which interlocutors come to grasp a common subject matter together. Through the lens of dialogue-play, the book focuses on openness toward one's dialogue partner, respect for his differing point of view, and a willingness to learn from him in conversation as crucial ethical conditions of genuine understanding. The book aims to revive the ethical heart of philosophical hermeneutics and reveal the transforming power of the Other in Gadamer's hermeneutics. While Gadamer's Ethics of Play develops his philosophical hermeneutics as an ethical philosophy, in the style of the older tradition of Aristotelian practical philosophy, it is finally critical of the extent to which Gadamer's hermeneutics can be used as a guide to practice. The book points out our need for guidance when we face our most prevalent obstacle to understanding―a closedness to the Other, or unwillingness to engage in conversation―but finds no guidance from Gadamer in scenarios where ethical conditions are lacking. Inspired by Gadamer's discussion of play, the book searches for types of human interaction that might have the power to open or re-open the play of dialogue between those who have become closed to each other, so that true understanding between them can be developed. The book is accessible to an undergraduate audience, while also being relevant to ongoing debates among Gadamer scholars
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Gadamer’s Ethics of Play
Gadamer’s Ethics of Play Hermeneutics and the Other Monica Vilhauer
LEXINGTON BOOKS A division of ROWMAN & LITTLEFIELD PUBLISHERS, INC. Lanham • Boulder • New York • Toronto • Plymouth, UK
Published by Lexington Books A wholly owned subsidiary of The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc. 4501 Forbes Boulevard, Suite 200, Lanham, Maryland 20706 www.lexingtonbooks.com Estover Road, Plymouth PL6 7PY, United Kingdom Copyright © 2010 by Lexington Books All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote passages in a review. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Information Available Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Vilhauer, Monica. Gadamer’s ethics of play : hermeneutics and the other / Monica Vilhauer. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index. ISBN 978-0-7391-3914-1 (cloth : alk. paper) — ISBN 978-0-7391-3916-5 (electronic) 1. Gadamer, Hans-Georg, 1900–2002. Wahrheit und Methode. 2. Hermeneutics. 3. Play (Philosophy) 4. Other (Philosophy) 5. Ethics. I. Title. B3248.G33W34375 2010 175—dc22 2010022960 The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992. Printed in the United States of America
To my parents, lifelong dialogue partners
Contents
Acknowledgments Introduction: An Invitation to “Play” Part I: Gadamer’s Hermeneutic Problem 1
Facing the Inadequate Model of Modern Science
Part II: Gadamer’s Concept of Play: Re-Conceiving the Process of Understanding
ix xi 1 3
23
2
Introducing the Key of Play
25
3
Understanding Art: The Play of Work and Spectator
31<