Year
2021Credit points
10Campus offering
No unit offerings are currently available for this unitPrerequisites
Enrolment in the Master of Theology (Research)Incompatible
PHIL622 Truth and Interpretation (Hermeneutics)
Teaching organisation
This unit involves 150 hours of focused learning. The total includes formally structured learning activities such as lectures, tutorials, online learning, video-conferencing or supervision. The remaining hours typically involve reading, research, and the preparation of tasks for assessment.Unit rationale, description and aim
As attested by Pilate's famous question to Jesus in John's Gospel, discussion over the nature of truth is an ancient philosophical preoccupation that has enormous implications across a range of human endeavours, with theology a particular case in point. This unit explores the whole question of human communication in its complexity and dynamism, and what the implications are for the nature of truth, knowledge and interpretation. What is meant by 'objective' knowledge? Is the idea of 'absolute truth' feasible, and is it possible for human beings? Either way, what are the implications of this? In particular, how should answers to these questions influence our understanding of the interpretation of written texts? This unit provides students with the opportunity to consider hermeneutics from both philosophical and literary perspectives, with a particular focus on the Bible.