In her book, "Justice and Interpretation", Georgia Warnke sets forth the general principles of hermeneutics. Hermeneutics is basically another way of referring to the way we as a society interpret various information through our history and culture. It is the way we give reasons why a particular decision or action was appropriate for us at a given time. Warnke also illustrates how hermeneutics can be beneficial to our society. In the conclusion of her book, she discusses the debate on abortion and shows how a hermeneutic approach to the debate can be beneficial to both sides.
First, she makes the point that a hermeneutic approach can, "shift the emphasis from a conflict," that between the advocates of pro-choice and those of pro-life, to a "conflict between two interpretations" of how the decisions and actions taken by each group followed along the guidelines set forth by the traditions of our society. Through this change, the conflict becomes one, not over which group is co
This approach to a conflict between opposing groups would come in useful for the different views taken in regard to ideology. The two major views, that of a critical nature and that of a class-conscious nature could benefit a great deal from a hermeneutic approach to their conflict.
These opposing sides will most likely have very different views on what is, or was appropriate to a given class or society during their history; hence the distinction between one group seeing ideology as a distortion, something that did not reflect the society, and the other seeing ideology as a direct reflection of the society. The key is not to allow the opposing views to create a barrier between the two sides that would prevent them from recognizing the plausibility of the other viewpoint. This is, in fact, the ultimate goal; if the two sides would observe the validity of each other's arguments, then perhaps an agreement could be reached. If the two groups would acknowledge that both views of ideology are valid within
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