Intro

The central debate this week? Whether interpretation goes “all the way down.” Leigh stakes out a position, arguing that even the simplest acts of clarification are interpretive performances grounded in systems of meaning. Talia, donning her analytic hat, pushes back hard—insisting that certain discursive acts, like clarifications and first-person avowals of emotional states, are distinct from interpretation and must retain ethical authority, especially in politically fraught times. Rick mediates, drawing on hermeneutics and pragmatism to suggest that truth itself is an emergent product of interpretation, not a pre-existing ideal.

What results is one of the most spirited episodes yet—complete with sharp disagreements, honest reflection, and even a break to cool off before the bartender makes final call!

Whether you side with “everything is interpretation” or insist on preserving non-interpretive discursive acts, this episode will leave you questioning what it means to make sense of anything. Grab a drink and buckle up—this is the kind of philosophical brawl you don’t want to miss!

Full episode notes available at this link:
https://hotelbarpodcast.com/podcast/interpretation

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