Time, narrative and liberation discourse : a brief review and assessment of aspects of the recent hermeneutical writings of Paul Ricoeur

Hunter, David McMorris

Time, narrative and liberation discourse : a brief review and assessment of aspects of the recent hermeneutical writings of Paul Ricoeur

Master Thesis

1991

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Department of Religious Studies

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Abstract

The aim of this paper is, firstly, to consider a contemporary literary methodology, that of Paul Ricoeur, and secondly, to critique that methodology from the perspective of a sharply contextual approach, in association with a materialist theory of literature, such as that emerging from the South African context. Ricoeur's position is useful as a starting point because of the eclectic make up of his theory. His work includes aspects of the historical critical approach, psychoanalytic theory, structuralism, philosophy and a response to materialist thinking. We are, however, choosing to restrict ourselves to the more recent work of Ricoeur corresponding broadly to the period 1975-1990. In this period Ricoeur's concentration shifts from the hermeneutics of symbol to the hermeneutics of language.