Against a Science of Human Communication: The Role of Hermeneutics in Contributing Arguments From the Frankfurt School

I have been asked to discuss here how that intellectual tradition signified by the term "Frankfurt School" has regarded hermeneutics. And, since the subtitle of this conference session on hermeneutics is "An Understanding of the Process of Interpreting Human Communicative Behavior," I feel even more compelling to do so as I reflect upon the conference program in general, noting that by comparison this session sticks out like a sore thumb. I am brought to wonder how a session on hermeneutics is seen to relate to those behavioral studies being reported elsewhere. Now I could, of course, assume that there is no relationship intended, and thus no mutual contribution assumed. But I should like here to assume some sort of relationship--not for this conference, necessarily, but for the hermeneutic study of communication and how we are to think of that kind of study fitting in with communication studies in general--or not. This leads me into, rather appropriately, the Frankfurt School and its regard of hermeneutics in relation to inquiry conducted under a philosophy of science.