MY ANALYSIS ON THE TERM “HEROISM”: The Interrogation

University panel interrogation.

Barrister79: The honorable panelists of this prestigious institution, today I am going to present my analysis on the term “heroism” – a term which was oftentimes used and abused all through out the affairs of human civilizations. This indicates how powerful is a concept such that it could manipulate human feelings and reasoning…[interrupted]

Panelist1: For a while, what are you trying to establish in your presentation?

Barrister79: I am trying to establish four different interpretations pertaining with the term “heroism”, sir.

Panelist1: And what are those four different interpretations you said?

Barrister79: I am referring to “heroism” as

                   1. a term with manipulative concept;

                   2. a term which is tainted with subjectivity and biases;

                   3. a term which is totally biased in favor to those who benefited from the “heroic” act;

                   4. an act of hypocrisy.

Panelist1: Thank you!

Panelist2: How do you define “heroism”?

Barrister79: I defined “heroism” as an act or a practice of being or becoming a “sacrificial lamb” for the benefit of others, which I considered as an act of hypocrisy.

Panelist2: Haaaaa? Heroism is an act of hypocrisy?

Barrister79: Yes, ma’am. It is an act of hypocrisy because a person exposed himself to a risk which is not his business at all while the real party concerned has the capability of exposing themselves to any danger for their own benefit.

Panelist2: Do you have a child sir?

Barrister79: I may have, I may have none.  [smiling] I have a niece, Tahlia; and nephews, Connor and Kobe

[the spectators clapped their hands for the impertinent answer]

Panelist2: My point sir, when you see your child drowning or at risk, will you save him?

Barrister79: My answer is YES, ma’am. But I do not consider my act as  “heroic” because it is my NATURAL OBLIGATION to save them. The components which composed their bodies are the same substance which composed mine.

Panelist2: When you save them, are you not considered as their “hero”?

Barrister79: No. It is my natural obligation to rescue them; It means that I’m compelled with a necessity and not by the concept on “heroism”.  “Heroism” has something to do with pure sacrifice for the benefit of someone you hardly know. However, if they consider you a hero, it is because this term is so manipulative.

Panelist2: Thank you!

Panelist3: Sir, I think I got your point, somehow. Supposing you see me drowning, won’t you save me because “heroism” is an act of hypocrisy?

Barrister79: If I see you drowning after giving me a failing rate, I think I am justified if I’ll just close my eyes. [applause from the students]   Just kidding sir, your question requires prudent evaluation I guess.  I may still save you sir, as an act of mercy and not as a heroic act.  Heroic act, I suspect, suggests recognition from the person saved and recognition for the person who save.

HERMENEUTICS: The Salient Features

Formulated by Paul Whelmer Alforque

 

Definition

I defined hermeneutics as a philosophical instrument for interpretation, appreciation and evaluation of a literary intent, linguistic compositions and any written or verbal manifestations.

Applications

I maintained that there is no impediment in applying hermeneutics to both written and oral presentations. Meaning, hermeneutic analysis is not only applicable to a writing piece but also to a verbal discourse.

Interpretation – It refers to the method of understanding the contextual meaning of a written or verbal language.

Translation – It refers to the transportation of an intention from one language to another.

I.       The precedence of Interpretation over Translation.

         Error always follow from a direct translation. This means that one should first interpret before attempting to translate it. Interpretation comes before translation.

II.      The two aspects of Interpretation

          1. External Construction – Interpretation on the circumstances before and of the time of the writing.

          2. Internal Construction – Interpretation based on the letters and substance in the language of the writing.

III.    The properties of External Construction [interpretation on the outside factors]:

          1. Time and place of creation. [ex. the inquisition period, civil war, renaissance, etc]

          2. Social circumstances of the time and place of creation. [ex. views on gender, race, etc.]

          3. Participation of the creator on the events of circumstances.

          4. Mental and physical condition of the creator at the time of creation. [ex. depression, frustration, senility, insanity, etc.]

          5. Influences that affects the creator. [ex. political affiliations, religious stands, etc.]

          6. Purpose and intent of the creator.

          7. The peculiarities and level of intelligence of the creator.

For an efficient understanding of a literary piece, it is necessary to go back to the emotions, sensation of the time of the writing, social framework and other events that may have influenced the work. External construction should be made prior to or concurrent with the reading of the subject literature.

IV.    The properties of Internal Construction [interpretation based on the language used]

          1. Discernment on the kind of language used [ex. Old English, Latin, Greek, etc.]

          2. Usage of words, terms and language.

          3. Grammatical intent of the language.

          4. Equivalent meaning of a word or language in accordance with time and place.

          5. Ordinary and special interpretation of language.

          6. Etymology of a borrowed term.

          7. Substance and the logic of the language.

Internal construction is the interpretation according to the letters and linguistic usage of the subject literature. This stage does not anymore encroach other sources but the language as used in the subject literature.

V.      Three kinds of conflict:

          1. Conflict in concept

          2. Conflict in language

          3. Conflict in logic

The study of conflicts in hermeneutics is essential because it allows the scholar interpreter to examine the changes and variations of the mind of the writer/author of the subject literature. The study of conflicts may also suggest that some portions of the writing may have been made in some other time where the learnings of the writer improved, progressed or regressed. Conflicts may be caused by ignorance, negligence, or intellectual improvement.

VI.    Three branches of conflict in language

          1. Conflict per se [the same statement carries the conflict]

          2. Interior conflict [conflict with reference to the series of statements]

          3. Exterior conflict [conflict with reference to the other sources]

VII.   Two branches of conflict in logic

           1. Plain logical conflict

           2. Experimental logical conflict

VIII.  Two branches of conflict in concept

           1. Material-Conceptual conflict

           2. Rhetorical-Conceptual conflict

IX.     Basic rules and treatments of reconciliation of conflicts:

           1. Ordinary elimination of irrelevant matters

           2. Multiple comparison of conflicts for the consideration of the most pertinent matters

           3. Substitution of the nearest meaning and substance when conflict appeared to be irreconcilable

           4. Convention when substitution seems inappropriate

X.        Suggested guideline for interpretation

           1.  Ordinary usage must be interpreted ordinarily

           2. Usage is the best interpreter of language

           3. The context of the language may suggest its meaning

           4. The HERMENEUTIC OF ORIGIN may be resorted to when there is a literal or metaphorical ambiguity

           5. The HERMENEUTIC OF USAGE may only be employed when the entire literature speaks in clarity or when the literature is widely accepted.

XI. Two approaches of interpretation

           1. A Priori Interpretation – This refers to the interpretation before or during the time a literature is written.

           2. A Posteriori Interpretation – This refers to the interpretation at the time the text is read.

XII. Method of Comprehension of Written Text:

           1. Conceptual – The concept behind the term used

           2. Propositional – The meaning as to what the writer desired it to be understood

           3. Contextual – The meaning as could be gathered from its entire context.

           4. Pragmatic – The meaning as could be determined from its rational and practical sphere.