Concept · Foundations

Authorial Intent

The meaning or purpose that the author intended to communicate, as recoverable from the text, the author's other writings, and the historical situation.

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Why it matters

Authorial intent constrains interpretation by providing evidence for what the text was designed to communicate.

Where this shows up

Units and lessons using this concept

Following the links will take you to the page where this term is introduced in context.

Units (1)

Hermeneutics: Arguing for an InterpretationInterpretation is not a spectator sport. When a text says something uncomfortable, people reach for the claim that it is 'just a metaphor…

Lessons (2)

Building the Case: How to Argue That a Text Means What It SaysHermeneutics: Arguing for an Interpretation Interpretation as Argument: Why Readings Need DefenseHermeneutics: Arguing for an Interpretation

Other concepts in Foundations

A, E, I, O Propositions Accessibility Relation Argument Atomic Statement Base Rate Bayes Factor Burden of Proof in Interpretation Calibration Cardinality Cartesian Product Categorical Proposition Categorical Syllogism