An Understanding of Science and a Hermeneutic Science of Understanding

Abstract

Due to misunderstandings and an insufficiently explicated methodological base, the unique and important role of interpretive methods in the behavioral sciences has been often overlooked. By distinguishing interpretive-understanding from subjective insights based on empathy and from explanations based on normative paradigms, the present essay elucidates the methodological foundation of investigations which have as a goal more complete understanding of observed behavior. Human behavior is to be understood by explicating the objective world of implied human possibilities and commitments which arise with the behavior. The essay concludes by considering objectivity, validity, and verification in terms of interpretive-understanding and presenting basic methodological principles for interpretive studies.