News
Professor Walhof's Book: The Democratic Theory of Hans-Georg Gadamer
January 17, 2017
Book Description:
Walhof’s book examines the distinctive contribution that the writings of Hans-Georg Gadamer make to democratic theory. Walhof argues that Gadamer’s hermeneutical philosophy enlarges our perspective by shifting our view away from individual citizens and to that which exists between citizens, thereby allowing us to envision political realities that are otherwise hard to see. These realities include the disclosure of truth in democratic politics; achieving common ground in democratic dialogue, even amidst significant disagreement and diversity; the public and political nature of the religious traditions that make claims on and shape citizens; and the solidarities that connect us to each other and enable democratic action. Walhof argues that bringing these dimensions to awareness enriches our theories of democracy and is particularly crucial in an era of hyper-partisanship, accelerating inequality, and social conflicts involving racial, sexual, and religious identities.
Praise for The Democratic Theory of Hans-Georg Gadamer:
“In a penetrating and innovative reading of the German philosopher's texts, Darren Walhof presents Gadamer as basically a democratic thinker extolling the virtue of public dialogue over the pursuit of self-interest. Lucidly written, the book clears the path for a better understanding of Gadamer's work and, more importantly, for the potential revival of genuine democracy in our time.”
—Fred Dallmayr, Emeritus Packey J. Dee Professor, University of Notre Dame, USA and author of The Promise of Democracy
“The Democratic Theory of Hans-Georg Gadamer is an invaluable book that makes a persuasive and original case for Gadamer as an important political philosopher. Walhof excels at clarifying Gadamer’s texts, tracing the development of his ideas and relating them compellingly to contemporary debates in politics and political theory. The book is a significant addition not only to the literature on Gadamer’s hermeneutics but to deliberative democratic theory and political philosophy as well.”
—Georgia Warnke, Distinguished Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Ideas & Society, University of California, Riverside, USA