La hermenéutica intercultural de Raimon Panikkar

Abstract

This article critically investigates the central aspects of Panikkar's theory of intercultural understanding. In the first part, it shows the difference of this theory with respect to philosophical hermeneutics in the heideggerian tradition. Special attention is given to Panikkar's thesis of radical pluralism. The second part explores the basic notions of diatopical hermeneutics: homeomorphic equivalence and understanding as conversion. Finally, a criticism is offered about the notion of dialogical dialogue, which is unsuitable for grounding an intercultural hermeneutics in contexts of intercultural conflict.