Conclusion II: Two Modes of Interpretation

Abstract

This book is intended to be an introduction to the practice of interpreting philosophical texts. By this I mean that a novice interpreter can take it as an example of the art of philosophical interpretation, using it to observe how an author engages in the practice of interpretation and in this way being introduced to that practice him- or herself. As with any art, it is more important to master the practice of interpreting than to be able to talk about it in the abstract and theoretically. Being able to say something smart and interesting about piano music might qualify you as a music critic, but it will hardly compensate for the miserable piano performance you gave the night before. This book is to introduce the reader to the practice, not the theory of interpretation (the latter of which is called ‘hermeneutics’).