Hermeneutics: A Very Short Introduction

Jean Grondin, Universit de Montral This very readable and much needed introduction breaks new ground in that it is the first to demonstrate, with insight, wit and a trove of illuminating examples, the importance of hermeneutics in all fields of knowledge.


Richard Kearney, Charles Seelig Professor at Boston College and author of Anatheism and Carnal Hermeneutics. Zimmerman offers one of the best short introductions to modern hermeneutics. The writing is at all times concise, clear and engaging. The author brilliantly evaluates the riches of this major intellectual tradition as well as revealing its ongoing creative influence on contemporary thought.


Fr. John Behr, Dean, St Vladimir's Seminary An excellent introduction to that most characteristic of human activities, the attempt to understand. From the key figures in the development of the discipline to the application of their ideas in various fields, the reader is shown what it means to think hermeneutically and invited to do so as well.


Graham Ward, Regius Professor of Divinity, Christ Church Oxford, Director of Graduate Studies New York The Introduction clearly points to the major issues involved in hermeneutics. Jens Zimmermann writes excellently for a wide audience and the references to texting and to digital worlds gives it a contemporary feel.

Jens Zimmermann is Professor of English and Canada Research Chair for Interpretation, Religion and Culture at Trinity Western University, Canada. As well as speaking on the importance of hermeneutics and religion to lay audiences and graduate students, he has published books on theological hermeneutics in both English and German and has written articles on hermeneutics in academic journals. He is author of Politics and the Religious Imagination (Routledge, 2010) and Humanism and Religion (OUP, 2012).

Preface ; 1. What is Hermeneutics? ; 2. Hermeneutics: A brief history ; 3. Philosophical hermeneutics ; 4. Hermeneutics and theology ; 5. Hermeneutics and law ; 6. Hermeneutics and science ; 7. Hermeneutics and the humanities ; References ; Further reading ; Index