Engaging Paul Ricoeur's work on memory, history, and forgetting : in search of an adequate methodology for church and theological historiography

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Life in the present is never only about the present, but notably also about the past and the future. In this study the problematic of the representation of the past is addressed in search of a responsible historical hermeneutic. It is argued that historical hermeneutics is about the past, the present and the future, and, above all, the relation that exists between them. Historical hermeneutics facilitates our understanding of the past from our position in the present and creates meaningful ways in which we may anticipate the future.In this study I aim to contribute to the development of responsible historical hermeneutic for church and theology, especially in South Africa. To do so, I engage with the magisterial work of the French philosopher Paul Ricoeur, Mémoire, l'histoire, l'oubli who, I believe, proposes valuable signposts for us to reckon with on our way to a responsible historical hermeneutic.A general introduction is given to theological historiography and the development thereof in South Africa, pointing towards reasons why it is important for responsible historical hermeneutics to exist. The work of Paul Ricoeur is introduced as a valuable partner to dialogue with in this respect. A brief intellectual biography is given regarding Ricoeur's work in order to indicate where and how his last work fits into and forms a part of his life's work.The third chapter of the study is an outline and discussion of Ricoeur's work, Memory, History, Forgetting. The discussion follows the order of Ricoeur's work itself, and I try to indicate the main lines in Ricoeur's argument, yet giving credit to him for the thorough way in which he deals with the respective themes by engaging the disciplines of philosophy, history, sociology, neurosciences etc.Subsequently I propose certain themes from Ricoeur's work that is important for the church historian and historical theologian as signposts towards an adequate historiographical methodology.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University