Abstract
The historical forms of hermeneutics changed our view of human knowledge, the emergence of general hermeneutics as a universal form of understanding and interpretation, especially in human sciences, opens up a range of questions: how to penetrate to the individuality of the author and his intention, to understand the hidden contexts of researched facts, how to penetrate the psychology of experience and empathy. The basic principles of hermeneutics are explained - hermeneutic differences, hermeneutic circle, hermeneutical antinomy.
The author reveals the role played by historical consciousness and contingency in hermeneutics.