Abstract: Emilio Betti holds an important position in contemporary Western hermeneutics, and some commentators refer to him and Gadamer as the “two cornerstones of modern hermeneutic philosophy.” In a theoretical landscape dominated by ontological hermeneutics, Betti inherited traditional methodological hermeneutics, challenging ontological hermeneutics by reintroducing methodological requirements into hermeneutics and reaffirming the epistemological and objectivist dimensions of understanding. He emphasized textual autonomy and the reconstruction of authorial intention, resisting the incorporation of beneficial insights from ontological hermeneutics and consequently limiting the creativity and openness of understanding. The question of methodology versus ontology remains one of the most important issues in contemporary hermeneutical debates. Re-evaluating Betti’s hermeneutics within the hermeneutical tradition and contemporary context holds significant theoretical value and importance.

Key words:  methodological hermeneutics, ontological hermeneutics, understanding, interpretation, reconstruction