The Fallibility of Man in Bob Ong’s Macarthur: Applying A Ricoeurian Hermeneutics

Abstract

Mainly, the hermeneutics of Paul Ricoeur is characterized to be more of anthropological. Its focus is on the notable
aspects of human subjectivity. The central objective of this research paper is to apply a Ricoeurian hermeneutics on
the fallibility of man using Bob Ong’s novel, MacArthur. There was a piece-by-piece discussion about the kind of
hermeneutics Paul Ricoeur subscribes to, his classic book, the Fallible Man, and Bob Ong’s MacArthur. The
discussion was prudently made from one subtopic to the others until the objectives of this paper are attained. The
fallibility of man is highlighted as a simple yet rich discussion of human fallibility using the characters found in
MacArthur is made. This paper unraveled the possible causes of human fallibility, and ended with a clearer picture
of what and who the fallible man is. Since human fallibility is not inevitable, it is recommended that Values Education,
Logic and Applied Ethics be re-integrated, re-inserted and included in the curriculum of all education levels as means
to achieving values formation among students and for them to avoid the tendency of fallibility.