How does interpreting a human action resemble interpreting a text or painting?

In the philosophy of social science, the interpretation of human action is often compared to the interpretation of a text or a painting through the lens of hermeneutics.

Proponents of this view argue that human actions are not merely physical movements but are expressions of ideas, feelings, and cultural orientations. Because these actions are essentially meaningful phenomena, understanding them requires an interpretive approach rather than a causal explanation—the latter being more appropriate for studying natural entities like cells or molecules.1

Key aspects of this resemblance include:

• Meaning over Cause: Just as one seeks to understand the meaning behind a text or the intent behind a painting, social scientists focus on the "inside" of human action—the motives, goals, and subjective states of the actor.1
• Intentionality: Human actions are consciously undertaken and gestural, serving as expressions of a person's psychological state and cultural background.1
• Contextual Understanding: Much like interpreting a work of art within its historical or cultural context, understanding human life involves grasping the "life-world" and the conceptual schemes in which individuals exist.1

Ultimately, this perspective asserts that human behavior is fundamentally different from the behavior of nonconscious entities, making interpretation a central, indispensable tool for the social sciences.1