Assignment 3 2026
Unique number:
Due date: 2026
QUESTION 1
1.1
(a) Hermeneutics and truth
Hermeneutics offers a view of truth that is different from the traditional scientific idea of
truth as something fixed, objective, and final. From a hermeneutic perspective, truth is not
simply discovered in the same way as scientific facts, but is understood through
interpretation. This means that truth is closely connected to human experience, language,
culture, and history. What we understand as true is shaped by the meanings we create as
individuals and as members of a community (Higgs & Letseka, 2022).
According to hermeneutics, human beings never approach the world as neutral observers.
We always bring our own backgrounds, beliefs, traditions, and assumptions into any
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, QUESTION 1
1.1
(a) Hermeneutics and truth
Hermeneutics offers a view of truth that is different from the traditional scientific idea
of truth as something fixed, objective, and final. From a hermeneutic perspective,
truth is not simply discovered in the same way as scientific facts, but is understood
through interpretation. This means that truth is closely connected to human
experience, language, culture, and history. What we understand as true is shaped by
the meanings we create as individuals and as members of a community (Higgs &
Letseka, 2022).
According to hermeneutics, human beings never approach the world as neutral
observers. We always bring our own backgrounds, beliefs, traditions, and
assumptions into any situation. As a result, truth is not something that exists
independently of us, but something that emerges through dialogue, understanding,
and interpretation. This does not mean that “anything goes” or that truth is
meaningless. Instead, it means that truth is richer and deeper than mere factual
correctness. It involves meaning, purpose, and human significance (Higgs &
Letseka, 2022).
Hermeneutics also challenges the idea that scientific truth alone is sufficient for a
meaningful human life. While science is important, it cannot answer questions about
values, identity, belonging, or the sacred. Hermeneutic philosophers argue that art,
tradition, culture, and shared social practices also point us toward truth by helping us
make sense of our lives. Truth, therefore, is not only about eliminating error, but also
about overcoming meaninglessness.
In this way, hermeneutics promotes openness and dialogue rather than
authoritarianism. Truth is not imposed from above by those in power, but developed
through shared understanding within a community. This makes hermeneutics
particularly relevant in diverse societies, where multiple perspectives exist. By
recognising that truth is always interpreted within a context, hermeneutics