Academic Seminar – 27th November // Dr. wout Bisschop – “Normativity in the discipline of Hermeneutics”
Academic seminars focus on early-stage research on questions at the intersection of Christian faith and scholarly enquiry. They are intended to be exploratory, generative for both presenter and participants, and accessible across disciplines.
Seminars run from 2-3pm, On most Fridays during the weeks of the University of Oxford’s full term
You are warmly invited to join us beforehand for community worship at 12.30pm and lunch in the Manor house (1-2pm).
Abstract:
In this talk, I propose that hermeneutics can be understood as comprising three main parts or projects. Reflection on practices of interpretation constitutes a form of epistemology; reflection on the use of an object of interpretation constitutes a form of ethics; and reflection on the reception of an object of interpretation constitutes a form of aesthetics. I argue that the practices examined by these projects may differ in their normative character: they may concern truth and correctness, but they may also involve other values or standards. These three practices neither conflict with nor substitute for one another; rather, each has its own place. Recognizing these distinct hermeneutical projects offers a way of understanding the field of hermeneutics and may help us navigate the different forms of normativity at work within it.
About the speaker:
Registration is not required to attend the seminar, but is needed if you want to book in for the free lunch.
Date
27th November 2026
Time
14:00 - 15:00
Price
Free (including lunch)
Speaker
Dr. Wout Bisschop
