Gadamer and Practical Philosophy: The Hermeneutics of Moral Confidence [Paperback]

Matthew Foster develops a hermeneutical philosophy of practice, based on a critical reading of Hans-Georg Gadamer's works on ethics, his debates with Leo Strauss, and his commentaries on contemporary moral issues. Foster argues that Gadamer's philosophical hermeneutics can help clarify the nature of moral reason and support the establishment of specific moral norms. He demonstrates how Gadamer's hermeneutical principles can be extended to address the problems of moral relativism and ideology indigenous to the modern era. Mr. Foster's attempt to restore confidence in practical judgment is fully successful. He reaches his goal through a fresh interpretation of Gadamer's debates with Leo Strauss and J?rgen Habermas. The work amounts to a bold expansion of Gadamer's practical philosophy beyond its self-imposed limitations. This companion to Gadamer's hermeneutics is the work of a sympathetic but uncompromising fellow traveler. --Paul Ricoeur