Paul Ricoeur’s hermeneutics in discourse analysis [doi: 10.21529/RECADM.2016014]

Abstract

This paper aims to present some reflections on Paul Ricoeur’s hermeneutics, showing his onto-epistemological and theoretical-methodological basis as an alternative perspective to Discourse Analysis. Moreover, I present some ancillary discussions that aim to reflect on (i) the current stage of the discourse analysis (DA) as a field; and (ii) the theoretical development of the discourse in the hermeneutics tradition. Despite of the consolidation of the discourse as object of Organizational Studies, this specific essay is exploratory, proposing discussions about a dense but still uncommon author in the field. In addition, I argue that the DA development has come at the expense of deeper philosophical analysis and conceptual rigor, revealing a gap in terms of theoretical discussions. I also demonstrate how the most elementary Paul Ricoeur’s hermeneutics concepts are intimately connected to the structural philosophical aspects of the discourse. The conclusions are presented throughout the exposition, but culminate in a defense of Paul Ricoeur’s hermeneutics as an epistemology for DA. Keywords Discourse analysis; Ricoeur’s hermeneutic; Ontology; Epistemology; Organizational studies.