Being-towards-the-text (Gadamer and Derrida in misunderstanding)

This paper deals with Gadamer-Derrida encounter during the ?Hermeneutics and Deconstruction? conference (1981). Taking into account the scale of mutual misunderstanding expressed on that occasion, many commentators suggested that it was an improbable debate, or even the non-dialogue. But, beneath the disappointing surface, Gadamer-Derrida encounter revealed complexity of relations between hermeneutics and deconstruction, which involve the great range of exceptional topics, influencing the main streams of twentieth century philosophy. In the first part I am analyzing philosophical and institutional framework of their encounter, then I am examining Gadamer?s conference paper, while the last part is concerned with debate itself.