Abstract
Ethics has always been a main domain of philosophical study. Hypertextual discursive expression has never been considered as the technology that can revolutionise the way we interpret ethical events and actions. This chapter intends to show that hypertextual discursive expression is not only useful, but also vital in any undertaking that seeks to reframe our ethical deliberations and judgements. The final objective is to convey the message that technology is becoming ever more essential in transforming philosophical thinking.
TopThe Philosophical Bases Of Hypertext – Its Hermeneutical Implication
Contemporary studies of philosophical hermeneutics are predominantly centred on the Gadamerian conception, giving due importance to the dialogue that should take place between what has been written in the past and the present situation of the interpreter. This Gadamerian notion contributed greatly to understanding interpretation. This chapter shall move a step further by shifting attention to another discussion, the aim of which is to encourage the reader to actively consider a profound change in the approach to hermeneutic study. This shall be done by entertaining the possibility of understanding and reshaping future hermeneutics within a different form of discursive expression - hypertextual writing. The idea is not to start and end the discussion with hermeneutics but to enrich it even further by considering, for the most part, ethical deliberation and judgement. It is not the intention to approach this discussion in a manner that is fraught with presumption. The intention is, rather, to broach the subject in the form of a plea addressed to the reader of this work to come up with constructive thoughts on what might be the future of interpreting and judging actions as ‘right’ or ‘wrong.’ It is hoped that the reader, is thus encouraged to adopt such a positive frame of mind, and will also be inclined to contribute to the setting up a platform of discussions to create a new framework that can be better placed to deal with such an important subject as the future of judgement and interpretation across the globe. This chapter, crude as it may be, will lay some foundations.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Metaphysics of Writing (the Metaphysics of the Unilinear Infrastructure of Language): Compared to the traditional metaphysical idiom of the Platonic style as the mode providing the only means to ‘truth,’ the metaphysics of writing can also be here applied to traditional unilinear writing. The reason for this is that unilinear writing dominates all thought processes: thinking must be shaped in such a way as to accommodate the confines of the unilinear writing.
Judgement: As against the perceived notion of coming to a conclusion about certain ethical actions, judgement is here taken to be the state of sustained perception of all related events.
Teleological Aspect: Unilinear writing that gives, both the reader and the writer, a sense of a definite conclusion.
Multiplicity of Discursive Paths: The amalgamation of different narratives. Such an amalgamation makes it likelier for justice to be done, particularly in view of the limitations of a single absolute narrative.
Pragmatic Hypertextual Ethics: The possibility of having a constellation of text that contains both normative and paralogical discourse.