ABSTRACT
Hermeneutics provides a way of trying to make sense of the world around us. To follow the arguments within hermeneutics it is necessary, above all, to understand the nature of the problem its proponents set out to address. The entire enterprise revolves around the claim that there are fundamental differences between the types of phenomena that are studied by the physical sciences (inanimate, physical objects) and the types of phenomena studied by the social sciences (human beings). The principal distinction between inanimate objects and human beings is human subjectivity. Given that the concept of human subjectivity plays a pivotal role throughout this chapter, a precise understanding of its use is essential. “Subjectivity” is a shorthand reference for various forms of human expression. These can include emotions, ideas, desires, etc. Subjectivity refers to whatever meaning people attach to their words, thoughts, or actions.
