A Study On Thinking Of Fusion Of Horizons By Hans-Georg Gadamer

Hans-Georg Gadamer is one of the greatest philosophers in Germany and the most important representative of western hermeneutics.While traditional hermeneutics is a subject concerning understanding and explanation,Gadamer considers that hermeneutics does not cover the methodology and moral science cannot be studied in the same way as natural science.Though Schleiermacher and Dilthey believe that the premise of understanding is an analysis on the psychological life of the author,Gadamer also criticizes that and he thinks understanding means to integrate different horizons.Gadamer brings up the idea of fusion of horizons based on that.The essay focuses on the thinking of fusion of horizons and analyzes two premises of fusion of horizons: the internal premise that discusses the preconception based on the prior fact,expected planning and openness;and the external premises that studies the contents of temporal distance and functional analysis.In the following,the essay also analyzes how effective history and logic of question and answer become the form of existence for fusion of horizons.According to Gadamer,understanding is an effective history incidence based on the nature.During the understanding,the subject and the object integrate with each other.The process of understanding is also about questions and answers.The author asks questions with the interpreter.The truth is expressed in the dialogue of questions and answers fom both parties.Last but not least,the author discusses the significance and influence of fusion of horizons by virtue of the thinking of Gadamer.Gadamer’s fusion of horizons thinking has a positive meaning for understanding.The pre-understanding on Gadamer is also very significant to our cognition and understanding,which opens up a series of new horizons and directions.However,the same time when Gadamer’s thinking of fusion of horizons become accepted by more and more people,he also confronts various furious criticism and challenges.