The essays in this book deal broadly with the question of what form reasoning about life and society can take in a culture permeated by scientific and technical modes of thought. They attempt to identify certain very basic types of questions that seem to escape scientific resolution and call for, in Gadamer's view, philosophical reflection of a hermeneutic sort.In effect, Gadamer argues for the continued practical relevance of Socratic-Platonic modes of thought in respect to contemporary issues. As part of this argument, he advances his own views on the interplay of science, technology, and social policy.These essays, which are not available in any existing translation or collection of Gadamer's work, are remarkably up-to-date with respect to the present state of his thinking, and they address issues that are particularly critical to social theory and philosophy.Perhaps more than anyone else, Hans-Georg Gadamer, who is Professor Emeritus at the University of Heidelberg and Distinguished Visiting Professor at Boston College, is the doyen of German Philosophy. His previously translated works have been widely and enthusiastically received in this country. He is recognized as the chief theorist of hermeneutics, a strong and growing movement here in a number of disciplines, from theology and literary criticism to philosophy and social theory.A book in the series Studies in Contemporary German Social Thought.

汉斯-格奥尔格·伽达默尔（德语：Hans-Georg Gadamer，1900年2月11日－2002年3月13日），德国哲学家， 曾在大学攻读文学、语言、艺术史、哲学，1922年获博士学位。1929年后在马堡大学、莱比锡大学、法兰克福大学和海德堡大学任教，主讲美学、伦理学和哲学。自1940年起，伽达默尔先后任莱比锡、海德堡、雅典和罗马科学院院士，德国哲学总会主席，国际黑格尔协会主席。