The Hermeneutic Revolution and Bernard Lonergan: Gadamer and Lonergan on Augustine's Verbum Cordis: The Heart of Postmodern Hermeneutics

Author:

Lawrence, Frederick G.

Format:

Journal Article

Year:

2008

Journal Title:

Divyadaan

Volume:

19

Issue:

1–2

Language:

English

Abstract:

The recovery, by both Gadamer and Lonergan, of Augustine’s doctrine of the inner word is the heart of postmodern hermeneutics, indicating the intrinsically dialogical nature of human consciousness. Through his analysis of phronesis, Gadamer remedied Heidegger’s rejection of propositional truth; through his recovery of the second inner word of judgment, Lonergan differentiated and generalized phronesis for all fields of knowing and acting. Since, further, habitual exercise of correct judgment does not occur without a conversion, and given the priority of religious conversion as gift, postmodern hermeneutics becomes in Lonergan a critically and methodically mediated hermeneutics of love.

Who (Jesuits):

Lonergan, Bernard J. F., 1904–1984

What (Subjects):

Theology

Philosophy -- Hermeneutics

Biography

When (Centuries):

20th century

Page Range:

55–86

ISSN:

0972-2211