Shahid Beheshti University Soffeh 1683-870X 26 4 2016 05 21 Significance in History of Architecture: Eric Hirsch’s Hermeneutics Significance in History of Architecture: Eric Hirsch’s Hermeneutics 115 132 100324 FA Mohammad Gholamali Fallah PhD Candidate, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Trabiat Modares University Mohammad Reza Bemanian Professor, Faculty of Art and Architecture, Trabiat Modares University Journal Article 2017 12 02 <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri Light'; font-size: large;">As a branch of history, history of architecture is a cognitive quest for understanding the meaning of architectural monuments. Such a quest in history and historiography is essentially an effort in interpretation, which—by its very nature—becomes an exercise in hermeneutics. Employing the theories of the American philosopher, Eric Donald Hirsch (1928- ), this paper questions the typologies of architectural significance. As an advocate of objectivity of meaning versus semantic autonomy, Hirsch distinguishes between the verbal meaning of a text and its historic significance. On this basis, this paper further differentiates between the significance of a work of architecture per se, and its architectural significance. The former notion refers to the ultimate purpose of creating a work of architecture, and as such, is closely related to its functions, intentions of its patrons, architect, etc. The latter however, denotes the role a certain work of architecture potentially plays in the evolution of architecture in its respective historic period.</span> <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Calibri Light'; font-size: large;">As a branch of history, history of architecture is a cognitive quest for understanding the meaning of architectural monuments. Such a quest in history and historiography is essentially an effort in interpretation, which—by its very nature—becomes an exercise in hermeneutics. Employing the theories of the American philosopher, Eric Donald Hirsch (1928- ), this paper questions the typologies of architectural significance. As an advocate of objectivity of meaning versus semantic autonomy, Hirsch distinguishes between the verbal meaning of a text and its historic significance. On this basis, this paper further differentiates between the significance of a work of architecture per se, and its architectural significance. The former notion refers to the ultimate purpose of creating a work of architecture, and as such, is closely related to its functions, intentions of its patrons, architect, etc. The latter however, denotes the role a certain work of architecture potentially plays in the evolution of architecture in its respective historic period.</span> https://soffeh.sbu.ac.ir/article_100324_1ac79127e585b50da3ccff94b7e9fdb9.pdf