Investigating connections between philosophical hermeneutics and neighbouring traditions of thought, this volume considers the question of how post-Heideggerian hermeneutics, as represented by Gadamer, Ricoeur and recent scholars following in their wake, relate to these traditions, both in general terms and bearing upon specific questions.The traditions covered in this volume-existentialism, pragmatism, poststructuralism, Eastern philosophy, and hermeneutics itself-are all characterized by significant internal diversity, adding to the difficulty in reaching an interpretation that is at once comparative and critical. None of these traditions represent a unified system of belief; all are umbrella terms which are at once useful and imprecise, and the differences internal to each must not to be understated. An innovative work of comparative philosophy, this volume avoids oversimplification and offers specific analyses that treat hermeneutics in relation to particular themes and key figures in each of these traditions of thought. Philosophical hermeneutics is explicitly dialogical, and it is in this spirit that the authors of this book approach their subjects, revealing the important affinities and opportunities for mutually enriching conversations which have until now been overlooked.

Editors' Introduction: Relational Hermeneutics Part 1: Hermeneutics and Philosophies of Existence 1. Babette Babich, "Solicitude: Heideggerian Care and Assistance"2. Thomas W. Busch, "Sartre: From Hyperbolic Existentialism to Crypto-Hermeneutics"3. Antonio Calcagno, "The Existentialist Reworking of Hermeneutics: Heidegger, Sartre, and de Beauvoir"4. Andrew Wiercinski, "The Hermeneutics of Lived Time" Part 2: Hermeneutics and Pragmatism 5. Paul Fairfield, "Hermeneutical Pragmatism"6. Vincent Colapietro, "The Pragmatic Spiral"7. Ramsey Eric Ramsey and Raelynn Gosse, "A Poet on Each Side of the Poem: A Hermeneutic and Democratic Demand for Engaging Tradition"8. Saulius Geniusas, "Things as they are / Are changed upon the blue guitar: Self-Realization and Productive Imagination" Part 3: Hermeneutics and Poststructuralism 9. Carlos Prado, "Foucault and Hermeneutics"10. Pol Vandevelde, "Dialogue or Drama? The Role of Language as Seen by Gadamer and Foucault"11. Marc-Antoine Vallee, "Understanding: A Violent Aim?"12. Lisa Watrous, "Hermeneutics as Loving Understanding: Toward a Feminist Poststructuralist Hermeneutics" Part 4: Hermeneutics and Eastern Thought 13. Nicholas Davey, "The Turning Word: Relational Hermeneutics and Aspects of Buddhist Thought"14. Eric S. Nelson, "Confucian Relational Hermeneutics, the Emotions, and Ethical Life"15. David Chai, "Daoist Existential Hermeneutics and the Art of World-Making"Index