Hermeneutics is primarily concerned with the interpretation of texts, symbols, and other forms of cultural expression.

Friedrich Schleiermacher is often credited with laying the foundation for modern hermeneutics with his work on biblical interpretation.

Exegesis refers to the critical interpretation of a text or symbol, seeking to understand its meaning and significance from the author's perspective.

The hermeneutic circle refers to the dynamic process of interpretation, where the interpreter's understanding of a text or symbol is continuously refined and deepened through repeated engagement with it.

Historical hermeneutics, as pioneered by Wilhelm Dilthey, focuses on understanding texts and symbols within their historical and cultural context.

Reader-response criticism is a hermeneutic approach that emphasizes the role of the reader's subjective experiences and interpretations in shaping the meaning of a text.

Jacques Derrida is known for his development of deconstruction, a method of analyzing texts to expose their underlying assumptions and contradictions.

Intertextuality refers to the relationship between a text and other texts, exploring how meanings and references are created through connections and allusions to other works.

New Criticism is a hermeneutic method that emphasizes the close analysis of a text's language, structure, and imagery to uncover its meaning.

Cultural hermeneutics explores the relationship between texts and symbols and the cultural context in which they are created and interpreted.

Hans-Georg Gadamer developed Gadamerian hermeneutics, which emphasizes the importance of dialogue, understanding, and the role of tradition in the interpretation process.

Ethical hermeneutics explores the relationship between texts and symbols and their ethical and moral implications.

Reader-response criticism focuses on the role of the reader in shaping the meaning of a text, exploring how their background and experiences influence their interpretation.

Theological hermeneutics explores the relationship between texts and symbols and their religious or spiritual context.

Paul Ricoeur developed the concept of 'hermeneutics of suspicion', which examines how texts and symbols can conceal hidden meanings and power structures.