The Metaphysics of Light and the Concept of Truth in Gadamer’s Philosophy
Author：Wing-Wah Chan
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In Wharheit und Methode, Gadamer claims that his hermeneutical inquiry is guided by the metaphysics of light. It is therefore reasonable to suggest that this kind of metaphysics also guides his concept of truth. This essay is an attempt to elucidate the Gadamerian concept of truth in terms of his metaphysics of light.
I first point out that the light in the metaphysics of light is the light of word. Since the nature of light is to illuminate, the Being of word is illumination rather than presence. Moreover, as whatever is illuminated is an event, the meaning of truth is not the correspondence of proposition to fact, but an event illuminated by the light of word. I then continue to suggest that analysis of the light of word can reveal a full view of the Gadamerian concept of truth. This concept of truth is approached in terms of the nature of light, the source of light, and the direction of light. Finally, I briefly indicate the priority of the Gadamerian concept of truth to the traditional concept of truth as correspondence and coherence .