Much criticism regarding the theory of hermeneutics in translation focuses on the acceptance of subjectivity in translation. One of the objections brought into discussion is the difficulty of hermeneutics in objectifying and formalizing the translator’s subjectivity, which in turn leads to the more radical question of the scientific status of hermeneutics itself. Surprisingly enough, critics often forget that a central aspect of the hermeneutical theory of translation, both in the past and at present, is the endeavour to find an acceptable (...) scientific and intersubjective ground for interpretation. The aim of this article is to show how the hermeneutical theory of translation illustrates the play between subjective and intersubjective, subjective and objective dimensions. The contributions of F. Schleiermacher, R. Stolze and B. Stefanink to this topic will also be discussed. (shrink)