Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Associate Professor of Philosophy, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
2 Phd student at Khatam University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
1. Introduction
This article elaborates on the concept of genre in Eric Hirsch's hermeneutical theory and explores how genre can be used as an interpretive guide to achieve the author's intended meaning. According to Hirsch, the decisive and determinative role of valid interpretation for all future inferences in the humanities cannot be ignored, as all humanistic studies are based on the understanding and interpretation of texts. From this perspective, a valid interpretation requires a standard, meaning something that is stable and definite beyond its broad range of implications and applications. He introduces the author's intended meaning as the only normative concept with the characteristics of necessity and shareability, which can lend credibility to interpretation. For him, what is sought in reconstructive interpretation and should be the basis for all interpretive goals is the "literal meaning," which is why he focuses on language as a transmitter of meaning. Language, as a tool for conveying meaning, both creates and limits meaning. Hirsch emphasizes that understanding the author's intended meaning requires knowing the semantic horizon of words and genre. He introduces genre as a specific "type" of discourse that guides the meaning of the text. Hirsch examines the difference between language and speech using the concepts of Saussure and Wittgenstein. Saussure describes language as a system of potential meanings and speech as the actualization of those meanings. Based on this, Hirsch argues that meaning exists only in speech, and to determine the meaning of a text, it must be placed within a specific genre framework. Wittgenstein also emphasizes through the concept of language games that understanding a discourse requires knowing the rules of its language game. Hirsch uses this concept to explain the role of genre, stating that genre is a type that guides the meaning of the text and acts as a bridge between different meanings and the specific meaning intended by the author. Therefore, genre, as an interpretive guide, helps the interpreter discern the author's intended meaning among various meanings and interpretations and resolves the contradiction between the variability of interpretations and the constancy of the text's meaning.
Research Questions
1- How is genre conceptualized in Eric Hirsch's hermeneutical theory, and how does he use the concept of genre to defend the author's intent in text interpretation? 2- What role does genre play as a fundamental principle in Eric Hirsch's hermeneutical theory in achieving the author's intended meaning?
Methodology
This research was conducted fundamentally based on the study of library sources and articles published in international journals and internet sources.
Literature Review
Eric Hirsch defines genre in hermeneutical theory as a theory of difference, emphasizing genre agility over mastery, facilitated by semiotic, hermeneutic, and discursive agility within interdisciplinary research representation. (weedn, 2003) Eric Hirsch defines genre in hermeneutical theory as a crucial concept that highlights the importance of prior knowledge over formal skills for reading comprehension in education. (Clark, 2009) E. D. Hirsch's hermeneutic theory emphasizes that the meaning of a literary work is absolute and tied to the author's original intention, distinguishing between meaning and consciousness of meaning. (Moh’d Khair, 2024: Al Omar, 2024) Eric Hirsch defines genre in hermeneutical theory as a site of negotiation between subject and object, embodying conflicted states of consciousness, rather than just structural features or effects. (Rajan, 2000) Eric Hirsch defines genre in hermeneutical theory as a synthesis of needs, socially operative action schemes, and conventions, reflecting socio-historical specific structures and functions. ( Hauptmeier, 1987) E. D. Hirsch views genre in hermeneutical theory as a vague yet influential concept, often used as a magical talisman in various disciplines, including literary criticism and philosophy. (Emarth, 1981) Eric Hirsch defines genre in hermeneutical theory through traditional metaphors like genres as categories, forms, and rules, ultimately portraying genres as containers shaping reading practices. (Bastian, 2012)
Additionally, a search in the databases of the Jihad University Scientific Information Center (SID) and NoorMagzin did not yield any articles in Persian related to the concept of genre in Eric Hirsch's hermeneutical theory.
Conclusion
According to Hirsch, all humanities are based on the interpretation of texts. Therefore, the issue of interpretive validity is of utmost importance to him. He claims that attention to validity in text interpretation has been completely overlooked in the contemporary era because the very idea of absolutely valid interpretation has come under fundamental doubt. Hirsch considers the humanities deserving of claims to genuine and authentic knowledge, where authentic knowledge is that which has the highest likelihood of consensus. Even if a text appears ambiguous or its results are not definitive, this should not be an obstacle to reaching consensus and agreement in interpretation. According to Hirsch, ambiguity in knowledge does not mean that the knowledge itself is ambiguous, and validity does not require certainty and finality. Given Hirsch’s focus on contemporary advances in linguistics and philosophy of language, he addresses language as both a constructor and a limiter of meaning to defend his theory of achieving the author's intent. Hence, he attempts to link the text’s ability to convey multiple meanings with the unity of the author’s intended literal meaning through the concept of genre. Hirsch asserts that the meaning of a text is the meaning intended by the author and is shareable and transmissible. However, to achieve this intended meaning, a valid methodology is required. The idea of genre provides a framework that guides the interpreter in text interpretation. This framework essentially represents the interpreter’s system of expectations, which starts out as ambiguous and becomes clearer as the interpreter projects their expectations onto the entire text, guiding the interpretation process. In this way, the interpreter can achieve the meaning of the text or the author’s intent by projecting the genre onto the entire text. Hirsch introduces the concept of genre as an interpretive hypothesis that guides the interpreter in discovering the author’s intent. In Hirsch’s approach to text interpretation, a diligent interpreter seeking to hear a voice from afar must rely on language, which, despite its limiting nature, determines meaning, and concepts such as semantic type and genre serve as guides to reach the author’s intended meaning and valid interpretation.
Keywords
Main Subjects
)