Interpretatie als identificatie: de keuze van de hermeneutische traditie

Samenvatting

At least two different types of questions are raised in science: why & what-is questions. The Covering Law model of explanation is a normative theory on answering why questions. One of the model's prescriptions is to prefer deeper theories. This preference implies that scientists should search for new theories which make it possible to explain the successes & failures of existing theories. Because new & deeper theories can involve new interpretations, ie, concept formation, it is wrong to confine interpretation (answering what-is questions) to identification. Identification is the aim of the hermeneutic tradition. This is shown by analyzing the arguments of one of the classics of the hermeneutic tradition, W. Dilthey, & one of the more recent authors, J. Habermas. HA.