Religion Past and Present

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Understanding
(1,637 words)

[German Version]

I. Philosophy

It was not until the modern period that the concept of understanding became philosophically important. It gained currency by denoting the special kind of of knowledge in the humanities (Epistemology). What is understood is “historical material” (J.G. Droysen, Grundriss der Historik, 1868, §9; ET: Outline of the Principles of History, 1967) and any expression of human life. Thus the term “understanding” is used in contrast to explanation, which is used in connection wit…

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Figal, Günter and Herms, Eilert, “Understanding”, in: Religion Past and Present. Consulted online on 19 March 2024 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1877-5888_rpp_COM_025336>
First published online: 2011
First print edition: ISBN: 9789004146662, 2006-2013



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