ABSTRACT
The interpretation is the actualization of one or more of the possible interpretations of the interpretative text. Vincent Descombes' inquiry into the interpretative text is not an ontology of the text in general, nor is it an epistemology of the text as an intelligible object. The understanding of the interpretative text in terms of interpretation necessarily involves understanding and the understanding is an understanding in terms of meaning. Reading a text in a particular way, with a particular interpretation (and understanding particular meanings) does not guarantee the truth or falsity of the interpretation itself, nor even of the meaning(s) themselves. If the interpreting text does not diminish the difficulties that were in the interpretative text, then the virtues of the interpreting text as a substitute or exchange for the interpretative text are diminished. Restricting the domain to that of texts, however, Descombes points out that any particular interpretative text participates in a canon.
