Abstract The debate between explanation and interpretation is the fundamental controversy in the history of hermeneutics, rooted in the presupposed dualism of nature and spirit. Philosophical hermeneutics seeks to transcend this dualism through three “expansion” strategies: an expanded concept of truth, an expanded concept of existence, and an expanded concept of art. These correspond to three core questions: method or truth? history or future? technology or art? Fundamentally, these expansions are forms of resistance against the logic of identity inherent in science and technology. Today, facing a more complex existential situation and epistemic landscape, new technologies are opening new modes of existence—namely, digital-virtual existence characterized by universal algorithms and intelligence. Meanwhile, the spiritually expressive system based on the embodied existence of traditional natural humanity (the human sciences) is in decline. This raises the question: Can a hermeneutics oriented towards the universal method of the human sciences, grounded in the three expansions, still serve as the method of future philosophy or the humanities at large? With this question, we can reexamine various contemporary hermeneutic proposals.

Abstract The Japanese-American political scientist Francis Fukuyama described the Chinese as familists and Chinese society as a low-trust society. Such allegations about family values and social virtues stem from the discourse of cultural determinism, which was prevalent in Italian social research during the second half of the twentieth century. In 1958, American political scientist Edward C. Banfield proposed the hypothesis of “amoral familism” to explain the inability of residents in a small southern Italian town to form associations for collective interests. This hypothesis later inspired another political scientist, Robert D. Putnam, who quantitatively tested it through his study of the performance of democratic institutions across Italy’s regions. Banfield and Putnam focused on political organization and democratic institutions, respectively, and attributed their underdevelopment to local culture and history. In this way, they contributed to the discourse of cultural determinism, which is theoretically rooted in the political philosophies of Hobbes and Tocqueville. Drawing on diverse social practices, his ethnography reveals the complexity and integrality of local Roman society, offering both a critical reflection on and a transcendence of the discourse of cultural determinism.

Abstract To what extent do foreign actors impact local communities? Specifically, how do cultural translations between two fundamentally opposed worlds—the Yanomami universe and the U.S. Western universe—manifest and reveal different regimes of meaning? This article analyzes cultural translation as a meaning-making process, highlighting interlocutors’ efforts to establish a mutually intelligible and satisfactory communicative bridge. Methodologically, the author triangulates Lotman’s semiosphere boundaries with Landowski’s interaction regimes, mapping: (1) asymmetric programming; (2) adjustment via embodied practices; (3) indigenous critiques. Texts were coded for: (a) lexical gaps; (b) affective semiosis; (c) power markers. The findings reveal how translation enacts Asad’s ‘epistemological violence’ when Western categories overwrite indigenous lifeworlds. However, when translation is approached as a dynamic act of meaning production—rooted in affectivity and guided by the semiotic framework of adjustment—it offers new possibilities for engaging with otherness in more equitable and meaningful ways.

Abstract This article explores the colonization of northern Cyprus by Turkey after the 1974 war through the analytical lens of settler colonialism. Drawing on comparative frameworks, it investigates whether Cyprus represents a classical case of settler colonialism or a hybrid model combining elements of both settler and traditional colonial strategies. The analysis foregrounds Turkey’s systematic policy of population transfer, state-building, and demographic engineering to transform the island’s northern part. The study emphasizes the colonization process’s political, social, and economic dimensions, including the class origins of settlers, the evolving antagonism between Turkish Cypriots and settlers, and the emergence of a contested social and political order. Highlighting the persistence of settler colonial dynamics well into the twenty-first century, the article argues that the Cyprus case illustrates a fluid and ongoing struggle involving the metropolitan centre (Turkey), the local administration, the indigenous Turkish Cypriot population, and the settler community. It concludes that Cyprus embodies a hybrid formation, characterized by persistent tensions over unresolved identity, authority, and self-determination.

This paper focuses on the innovative combination of elements in social science methodologies, proposing a dimension-type framework to guide method combinations. It envisions a two-dimensional framework based on the classification of research nature and analytical techniques. Within this framework, commonly used methods in the social sciences, such as qualitative, quantitative, and case studies, are positioned and discussed, offering insights into some ambiguous viewpoints. Additionally, it explores the potential prospects for new combinations. The paper also explores complex interactive combinations, discussing methodological issues arising from approaches such as the “dialogue between theoretical models and case studies”.

In the 1980s, postmodernism posed a series of critiques against the social sciences and humanities, with anthropology being a prominent target. Although these critiques never prevented the continued development of the social sciences and humanities, the conundrum constituted by the “subject” and “subjectivity” remained unresolved. At its core, the methodological challenge facing the social sciences and humanities lies in the question of whether it is possible for a human (researcher) to study other humans living under different institutions (e.g., varying kinship institutions). Drawing on the researcher’s firsthand ethnographic fieldwork experiences, this study analyses and critiques the questions and solutions proposed by postmodernism through two key dimensions: fieldwork practice and methodology. The objective is to resolve this dilemma, thereby advancing the epistemological foundations of the social sciences and humanities.

Various pieces of literature affirm that historic buildings of different grades need specific interior design strategies to maintain their historical authenticity and convey their living heritage. This study investigates three historic buildings with different historical significance: Old Boma (Grade A), Old Post Office (Grade B), and Poa Poa Restaurant (Grade C). Archival research, field observations, interviews, surveys, and comparative analysis were used as the methodology. The following were the findings: there was a mismatch between the historical building category and the applied interior design strategies, which led to some buildings losing their historical authenticity; however, the newly evolved interior spaces have enhanced a higher quality of living heritage in terms of providing communal spaces, cultural exhibition activities, community engagement, and interactions through educational and economic activities. Predicaments include lack of funding for sustaining living heritage, failure to balance historical authenticity with modernity, lack of comprehensive planning for interior adaptive reuse projects, lack of conservation skills among the stakeholders, and a limited legislative framework for conserving buildings. The study recommends the following: fostering collaboration among various stakeholders (building owners, government, municipalities, local communities, and investors) to minimize conflicts and promote holistic adaptive reuse of historic buildings.

In Nagaland, northeastern India, shifting cultivation (SC) is a traditional agricultural practice influenced by a wide range of ecological, social, and economic factors. This study analyzes the variables influencing crop selection and land management in changing cultivation practices. Focused group discussions (FGDs) were conducted across 20 villages selected from four districts: Dimapur, Kohima, Mokokchung, and Zunheboto. The analysis revealed that socio-cultural dynamics, economic pressures, and ecological considerations are intricately intertwined and significantly shape this traditional practice. The study concludes that although SC is rooted in tradition, it dynamically evolves in response to modern challenges. This study provides a foundation for understanding the complex interplay of factors influencing traditional agricultural practices and sets the stage for future research to promote sustainable, adaptive, and community-led agricultural practices.

This article delves into how bereaved Brazilian immigrants in Germany confront their mourning far from their country of upbringing. Introducing the term “elusive closure,” the study captures the unique, unresolved grief that distance can impose on migrants. While the significance of mourning is undeniable, few recent studies have explored immigrant bereavement experiences. Addressing this gap, this research delves into the narratives of three bereaved Brazilians in Germany, emphasizing the complexities of transnational bereavement and the profound strain of geographic distance during central moments of grief. The findings highlight the challenging tapestry of isolation, sadness, guilt, and disconnection from cultural touchstones. Furthermore, the inability to attend a loved one’s funeral magnified their transnational bereavement. This article heralds crucial clinical implications, advocating for healthcare providers to recognize the unique challenges imposed by distance. It further amplifies the call for more research on immigrant bereavement, illuminating the multifaceted grief experiences in the diaspora.