TWO CONCEPTS OF PREJUDICE

Many scholars have noted that the concept of 'prejudice' (vorurteil) in the thinking of Hans-Georg Gadamer bears similarity to the use that has been made of the term in the speaking and writing of Edmund Burke. However, few studies have adequately explored whether Gadamer's philosophy could support the normative claims Burke makes with respect to prejudice. This article argues that despite Gadamer's explicit denials, there is indeed a normative dimension to his understanding of prejudice, and it will be demonstrated that his use of the concept is Burkean all the way down.