The Ontological Structure of the Hermeneutic Circle
Authors
Clayton Shoppa
St. Francis College
William Zanardi
St. Edward's Uniersity
Abstract
In his recent review of a book by Fred Lawrence, Jeremy Wilkins remarked that the author left undeveloped his claim that Lonergan’s functional specialties “thematize the ontological structure of the hermeneutic circle.” Why, he asked, did the author offer no further commentary on his claim? This essay is our experiment in filling in some of what was left unstated. It is also another exercise in doing the three objectifications Lonergan included as final steps in the fourth functional specialty of dialectic.
Author Biographies
Clayton Shoppa, St. Francis College
Clayton Shoppa is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at St. Francis College in New York City. He has contributed to a series of co-authored books about functional specialization, the latest of which is Comparing Philosophical Methods: A Way Forward.
William Zanardi, St. Edward's Uniersity
William Zanardi is Professor Emeritus at St. Edward's University in Austin, TX. He is one of three authors of a series of seven books applying Lonergan's fourth functional specialty to a wide range of issues. He can be reached at: williamz@stedwards.edu.
