Hermeneutics

Hermeneutics may be described as the development and study of theories of the interpretation and understanding of texts. In contemporary usage, hermeneutics often refers to study of the interpretation of Biblical texts. However, it is more broadly used in contemporary philosophy to denote the study of theories and methods of the interpretation of all texts. The concept of "text" is here also extended beyond written documents to any number of objects subject to interpretation. A hermeneutic is defined as a specific system or method for interpretation, or a specific theory of interpretation. However, contemporary philosopher Hans-Georg Gadamer has said that hermeneutics itself is an approach rather than a method. He also believed the Hermeneutic circle to be the central problem of interpretation.