Gadamer In Conversation：Reflections and Commentary

ThisvolumepresentssixlivelyconversationswithHans-GeorgGadamer(born1900),oneofthetwentiethcentury'smasterphilosophers.Lookingbackoverhislifeandthought,Gadamertakesupkeyissuesinhisphilosophy,addressespointsofcontroversy,andrepliestohiscritics,includingthosewhoaccusehimofhavingbeenincomplicitywiththeNazis.Agenialanddirectconversationalist,Gadamerisherecapturedathisbestandmostaccessible.Theinterviewstookplacebetween1989and1996,andallbutoneappearinEnglishforthefirsttimeinthisvolume.Thefirstthreeconversations,conductedbyHeidelbergphilosopherCarstenDutt,dealwithhermeneutics,aesthetics,andpracticalphilosophyandthequestionofethics.Inafourthconversation,withUniversityofHeidelbergclassicsprofessorGlennW.Most,GadamerarguesforthevitalimportanceoftheGreeksforourcontemporarythinking.Inthenext,thephilosopherreaffirmshisconnectionwithphenomenologyandclarifieshisrelationtoHusserlandHeideggerinaconversationwithLondonphilosopherAlfonsGrieder.Inthefinalinterview,withGermanNaziexpertDörtevonWesternhagen,GadamerdescribeshislifeasastrugglingyoungprofessorinGermanyinthe1930sandrefutesaccusationsofhiscomplicitywiththeNazis.Theseconversationsarealucidintroductionforreadersnewtothephilosopher'sthought,andforexpertstheypresentaninvaluablecommentaryonGadamer'smostimportantthemes.