Is There a Meaning in This Text?

Rating:
Summary: Indispensible hermeneutics textbook
Review: If you are a student of literature, theology or philosophy, you need to read this book. Not only is Vanhoozer's thoughtful and sensitive summary of the various postmodern views essential, but his refutation (which is equally thoughtful and sensitive) as well. He takes naive fundamentalism and slothful skepticism equally to task in this book, concluding with a charge to readers to be disciples of the text. Drawing upon speech act philosophy and a wealth of other linguistic and hermeneutic theories, Vanhoozer gives the reader today (whether skeptic, fundamentalist, or somewhere between) the tools to begin their responsible, ethical encounter with the "other" that is within all texts, biblical or otherwise. On a final note, his philosophy is refreshingly rooted in a Trinitarian understanding of God, and not a vague deistic concept. It is this unabashedly Christian aspect of his work that may cause many to write him off, but is truly the answer to our culture's struggle with meaning.

Rating:
Summary: Indispensible hermeneutics textbook
Review: If you are a student of literature, theology or philosophy, you need to read this book. Not only is Vanhoozer's thoughtful and sensitive summary of the various postmodern views essential, but his refutation (which is equally thoughtful and sensitive) as well. He takes naive fundamentalism and slothful skepticism equally to task in this book, concluding with a charge to readers to be disciples of the text. Drawing upon speech act philosophy and a wealth of other linguistic and hermeneutic theories, Vanhoozer gives the reader today (whether skeptic, fundamentalist, or somewhere between) the tools to begin their responsible, ethical encounter with the "other" that is within all texts, biblical or otherwise. On a final note, his philosophy is refreshingly rooted in a Trinitarian understanding of God, and not a vague deistic concept. It is this unabashedly Christian aspect of his work that may cause many to write him off, but is truly the answer to our culture's struggle with meaning.

Rating:
Summary: A Thorough and Thoughtful Work on the Core of Postmodernity
Review: This book is not for the fainthearted, but for any thinking person who is tired of under-researched caricatures of the literary theories associated with postmodernity, this is the book to read. Vanhoozer's book is exhaustive in its scope and incisive in its interpretations; he writes for people who are not content with simplistic treatments of what are serious issues. Few are as conversant with the relevant literature as Vanhoozer, and he writes as an expert in the field, not an outsider. His critiques are balanced and careful, and his constructive suggestions for Christian responses to current trends are brilliant. Any teacher or pastor who wants a thorough examination of the literary foundations of postmodernity must read this book. Ultimately, it will help you to reach out to our confused generation more sympathetically and effectively.

Rating:
Summary: A Thorough and Thoughtful Work on the Core of Postmodernity
Review: This book is not for the fainthearted, but for any thinking person who is tired of under-researched caricatures of the literary theories associated with postmodernity, this is the book to read. Vanhoozer's book is exhaustive in its scope and incisive in its interpretations; he writes for people who are not content with simplistic treatments of what are serious issues. Few are as conversant with the relevant literature as Vanhoozer, and he writes as an expert in the field, not an outsider. His critiques are balanced and careful, and his constructive suggestions for Christian responses to current trends are brilliant. Any teacher or pastor who wants a thorough examination of the literary foundations of postmodernity must read this book. Ultimately, it will help you to reach out to our confused generation more sympathetically and effectively.

Rating:
Summary: Circular Reasoning
Review: Vanhoozer acknowledges the critiques that postmodern continential philosophy offers with respect towards interpreting texts. Yet, the solution that Vanhoozer claims to work, is the solution that postmodern continential philosophy rejects. While it's popular in religion and literature departments to take deconstruction seriously, especially Derrida, in the philosophy departments Derrida is ignored. This is because he is incoherant and self-refuting. Derrida reads like a poorly written philosophy paper. Philosophers have the goal of clearly communicating their ideas; Derrida obfuscates his ideas. The fact that Vanhoozer has choosen to take the criticisms of Derrida seriously is a shame. It would have been better for Vanhoozer to have looked at contemporary philosophy of language and linguistics to seek help for biblical hermeneutics.

Rating:
Summary: Massive, Comprehensive, and Erudite
Review: Vanhoozer has written the definitive evangelical response to postmodern literary theory. In this book, which is about 500 pages of small print, Vanhoozer analyzes the deconstruction of the author, the text, and the reader, and then provides a Christian reconstruction of the three centered around an Augustinian hermeneutic of charity and recognition of God as ultimate author.

Vanhoozer is no slouch when it comes to linguistics, philosophy, literary theory, and their intersection in postmodern hermeneutics. He recruits the insights of Searle, Austin, Ricoeur, Gadamer, Hirsch, and yes, even Derrida, in his examination of the present confusion. Best of all, he shows remarkable skill in packing all this esoterica into readable and understandable prose.

Rating:
Summary: Massive, Comprehensive, and Erudite
Review: Vanhoozer has written the definitive evangelical response to postmodern literary theory. In this book, which is about 500 pages of small print, Vanhoozer analyzes the deconstruction of the author, the text, and the reader, and then provides a Christian reconstruction of the three centered around an Augustinian hermeneutic of charity and recognition of God as ultimate author.

Vanhoozer is no slouch when it comes to linguistics, philosophy, literary theory, and their intersection in postmodern hermeneutics. He recruits the insights of Searle, Austin, Ricoeur, Gadamer, Hirsch, and yes, even Derrida, in his examination of the present confusion. Best of all, he shows remarkable skill in packing all this esoterica into readable and understandable prose.