Abstract

Hans-Georg Gadamer is widely recognized as one of the most influential figures in twentieth century hermeneutics. Following Heidegger, Gadamer articulates the hermeneutical problem ontologically as the problem of human understanding, and argues that understanding is an inherently dialogical process that cannot be grasped by a facile appeal to method. While Truth and Method—his magnum opus—primarily focuses on the understanding of texts, his assertions regarding the historical and dialogical nature of understanding opens his work up to different types of application. This thesis will assert that his work provides an excellent framework for making sense of some of the challenges inherent in inter-cultural/religious dialogue and understanding, and accomplish this by exploring the Quebec accommodation crisis through a Gadamerian lens.