Hermeneutic Autonomy in an Individualised World

Abstract

This aim of this thesis will be to address a common experience of disillusionment and dissatisfaction with modern life. It will answer the question of how an account of hermeneutic autonomy can help understand the set of skills and capacities needed for understanding our own needs and desires in modern society. The argument will be that such an account of hermeneutic autonomy should take into consideration how modernity has changed our understanding of identity, should not be overly demanding and should be conceptually connected to autonomy as a whole. The work of Charles Taylor and Valerie Tiberius will be considered as possible theoretical bases for hermeneutic autonomy with these three criteria in mind. Finally, a conception of hermeneutic autonomy based on Valerie Tiberius will be proposed that defines being hermeneutically autonomous as being receptive to the values inherent in our commitments, willing to critically reflect on these values and being aware of when such reflection is appropriate.