View source for Notes on critical hermeneutics and knowledge systems


== Introduction: Overview of Critical Hermeneutics ==

=== Basic Characteristics ===

# Development Background:
#* Developed by École de Lille
#* New method from third historical phase of hermeneutics (late 20th century to present)
# Research Features:
#* Research Object: Problematic meanings (obscurity in broad sense)
#* Essential Shift: From studying "being with understanding" to "being with non-understanding"
# Contemporary Mission:
#* Interpreting the obscurity (obscurité) of our era
#* Mysticism can be viewed as an attempt to interpret contemporary obscurity

== Core Content of Lecture One ==

=== I. Background: Two Historical Views ===

== 1. Accumulative View of History ==

* Historical Context:
** Galileo's trial
** Descartes' suspension of "The World"
* Key Thinkers:
*# Descartes' Perspective:
*#* Emphasizes knowledge accumulation
*#* Advocates public sharing of knowledge
*#* Believes collective wisdom surpasses individual limitations
*# Pascal's Perspective:
*#* Introduces concept of "humanity" as a whole
*#* Emphasizes continuous progress of humankind
*#* Questions blind reverence for ancient wisdom

== 2. Whig Historiography ==

* Three Main Characteristics:
*# Linearity: History develops in a single line
*# Progressiveness: Continuous improvement
*# Purposefulness: Specific developmental direction
* Critical Features:
** Tendency toward moral judgment
** Teleological bias
** Presentism issues

=== II. Incommensurability ===

== 1. Conceptual Origin ==

* Derived from Euclidean geometry
* Revived by Einstein in 20th century
* Used to describe fundamental differences between knowledge systems

== 2. Understanding Perspectives ==

# Metaphorical Understanding:
#* Knowledge building isn't simple addition
#* Requires partial demolition and reconstruction
#* New knowledge systems represent qualitative change
# Key Features:
#* Different default situations
#* Different acceptable hypothesis ranges
#* Changes in term meanings

== 3. Three Major Implications ==

# Truth/Falsity Not External Standards
#* Truth exists within systems
#* Different systems have different "truths"
# No Objective Measurement Standards
#* Cannot compare truth levels across systems
# Nature of Scientific Development
#* Not pursuing singular truth
#* Rather avoiding anomalies

=== III. Three Models of Knowledge Systems ===

== 1. Paradigm ==

* Definition: Shared examples determining solvable problems and acceptable answers
* Level: Discourse level
* Feature: From unique to non-unique
* Classic Example: Physics paradigm in early psychology
** Wundt's thought meter
** Galton's dynamometer
** Spearman's neural energy

== 2. Thought Style ==

* Three Judgment Mechanisms:
*# Figure-ground judgment
*# Key-noise judgment
*# Particular-universal judgment
* Level: Psychological level
* Feature: Non-unique and plural
* Key Point: Collective nature of thinking
* Classic Examples:
** Fleck's rib case
** Neutrino flow interpretation changes

== 3. Episteme ==

* Basic Definition: The "table" where knowledge exists
* Level: Discourse generation level
* Classic Example: Evolution of price determination theory

== Conclusion: Incommensurability's Negation of Whig Historiography ==

# Negates Linearity: Due to incommensurability implying discontinuity
# Negates Progressiveness: Cannot prove closer proximity to truth
# Negates Purposefulness: Scientific development mainly avoids anomalies

== Key Implications ==

# Recognition of knowledge system constraints on thinking
# Understanding discontinuities between different knowledge systems
# Reflection on current knowledge system limitations