Interpretation and Understanding

3 important questions on Interpretation and Understanding

In which respects do natural and mental phenomena resemble and differ from one another?

They resemble each other in that they are empirical objects in the world, which can be studied by empirical science rather than being objects outside the world; in a timeless conceptual realm.
(Note:  rejection of idealism)

Mental phenomena differ from natural phenomena in that they have content and meaning.

Which two different scientific methods require Mental and Natural phenomena?

Natural phenomena:
  • Erklären: to explain outcomes by means of covering laws.
    • refers to a situation that you explain an outcome by pointing to the natural law that covers that outcome.
  • Method typical of the natural sciences.
Mental phenomena
  • verstehen: to understand meanings in an empathetic, interpretive manner.
  • method typical of the Geisteswissenschaften

What are the three characteristics that Dilthey describes to mental phenomena?

  1. Purposiveness
  2. meaningfulness
  3. relationality

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