Gadamer and Practical Philosophy: The Hermeneutics of Moral Confidence

Matthew Foster develops a hermeneutical philosophy of practice, based on a critical reading of Hans-Georg Gadamer’s works on ethics, his debates with Leo Strauss, and his commentaries on contemporary moral issues. Foster argues that Gadamer’s philosophical hermeneutics can help clarify the nature of moral reason and support the establishment of specific moral norms. He demonstrates how Gadamer’s hermeneutical principles can be extended to address the problems of moral relativism and ideology indigenous to the modern era.