Early Habermas’s Critique of Gadamer and His Later Approach to Religion

This chapter deals with the theory of tradition by Hans-George Gadamer and the critique of that concept by early Habermas. The chapter deals with the concepts of dialectical hermeneutics developed by Gadamer. The chapter deals with the question of the ontological priority of historical interpretations. The Gadamerian concept of inescapable pre-judgements and the concept of fusion of horizons. The chapter also explains how the concept of fusion of horizons is helpful in intercultural and inter-religious understanding. The chapter argues, following Gadamer that ‘understanding’ is not an empty concept; that understanding is for the sake of mutual agreement over differing cultural and thereby religio-cultural, horizons. The chapter further delineates the later Habermas turnaround on the question of religion and elaboration on the concept of post-secularism. The chapter further argues that the concept of post-secularism developed by Habermas is close to the concept of right to faith and religion in liberal theory. The chapter further contends that the concept of fusion of horizons is helpful in the context of developing countries as well, owing to the fact of the universality of hermeneutic condition.