Scientific and Research Ethics Seminar 6: Interpretation
Upcoming seminars (homepage)
So far Last week: meaning We have (among others): Distinguished between different concepts of meaning Made a demarcation between natural and cultural sciences Discussed how different actions can be understood in terms of levels of intentionality This time: interpretation Interpretation is the finding or determination of meaning. Different types of meaning-bearers require different types of interpretation
Different forms of interpretation Process vs product Natural vs non-natural interpretation Different types of interpretation for different levels of intentionality The basic level (first order intentionality) Actions: different thickness of description Meaningful action: manipulation & open communication
Interpretation: Object and meaning Manifest Forms on paper Letters Words Concepts and expressions Reference Locution Explicit content Literal Part Example Generalization Rule Application Hidden Letters Words Concepts and expressions Reference Locution Illocution Implicit content Figurative Whole Generalization Example Application Rule
Interpretation: steps карандаш karandash Pencil Doodle Sign Letters Sequence Word Expression Concept Meaning Reference
Interpretations: levels He is not the sharpest pencil in the box He is not very bright Warning: he is not very bright Choose another project member if you can Literal meaning Figurative meaning Illocution Explicit content Implicit content
Iterative process: parts and wholes pencil He is not the sharpest pencil in the box
Non-linguistic interpretation 1. Identify a certain form 2. See the form as something As a bulldog As Churchill 3. Put it into context 4. Grasp the point
What makes a good interpretation? Interpretation requires that we seek information beyond the actual object. General background Specific historic information Intentions of the originator/creator We may need to move back and forth between levels of interpretation. Several levels may be of equal importance.
Fact vs Interpretation Strictly speaking false dichotomy: an interpretation may have fully determined conditions of correctness. A nod indicating yes or wave of hand indicating hello. But: These conditions vary between different cases and contexts (nodding in Bulgaria, waving for help) For some kinds of interpretation it is not meaningful to talk about correct interpretation. What information is relevant also depends on which kind of interpretation we are dealing with.
Readings and Claimings A text or work may be given different readings : A text may be understood in different ways A play may be presented and performed in different ways Etc It may then be claimed that a certain reading corresponds to (the understanding of) a certain tradition, historical period or the intention of the creator/author Is interesting for certain aims and goals Is esthetically pleasing Is morally preferable
Kinds of claimings A reading of Plato s Republic may be claimed to be: 1. the one intended by Plato himself. This is typically either correct or not, regardless of whether we can gain access to that knowledge. 2. the most interesting/valuable/etc for some aim or goal In that case, the conditions of correctness are not as clear.
Kinds of claimings A certain theatrical production may be claimed to be: 1. Exactly in accordance with a historical production (in certain well-defined aspects): This is either correct or not, even when we cannot know which. 2. Esthetically or artistically attractive, have a cultural value etc. In these cases it may not be meaningful to talk about correctness (or may it?)
Interpretation and Facts Interpretation as Reading + Claimings may contain different kinds of claims: Factual claims Value claims Also value claims may have well-determined conditions of correctness E.g. when well-established standard or practice within the relevant discipline.
Summary Today: interpretation We have (among others) Examined different kinds of interpretations and objects of interpretation Examined the relation between facts and interpretation. Distinguished between kinds of conditions for determining a good interpretation Next time: frameworks and ontology (relativism or not?)