Which one of the following scenarios best demonstrates the concept of hermeneutics?
A) A parole officer obtains urine specimens from several parolees and has them analyzed for evidence of substance abuse.
B) Guards in a prisoner-of-war camp analyze the out-going mail of prisoners to determine if an escape attempt is being plotted.
C) A supervisor of graduate student teachers administers a questionnaire to students to determine the effectiveness of student-teachers.
D) The director of a day care center observes and records the interactions among the children to identify potentially aggressive ones.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Hermeneutics is the theory and methodology of interpretation, especially the interpretation of biblical texts, wisdom literature, and philosophical texts. It traditionally focuses on understanding the meaning behind written texts or symbolic representations. In option B, analyzing the out-going mail of prisoners to determine if an escape attempt is being plotted involves interpreting the underlying meaning or intentions behind the written words, which aligns with the principles of hermeneutics.

Which One of the Following Scenarios Best Demonstrates the Concept