Convinced that “hermeneutics” is the most important word in the English lexicon, Kyle Navratil draws upon the ideas of literary theorist Paul Ricœur to elucidate the implications of “hermeneutics” in the religious, psychological, and political sphere—challenging listeners to question the “why” of their personal hermeneutic models in his vision for a better future. Kyle Navratil is an undergraduate student at SUNY College at Geneseo. He is studying English with a concentration in creative writing and a minor in cognitive science. For 6 months Kyle lived as a Christian missionary in Phnom Penh, Cambodia and has returned to the United States to pursue his passion and enthusiasm for the importance of a liberal arts education. His goal is to inspire and equip others with the knowledge of "how" to think, not merely "what" to think. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx