Phil2005: Derrida
1. always deconstructing other texts. => required readings
2. deconstruction of the Western Metaphysics of Presence
+ what it is
+ it's importance
+ impact
Metaphysics of Presence=> the science of first principles of reality.
Suppose presence in Time and Space,
-> that meaning is fully contained/present to a term.
----- that is locatable.
----- challenged: meaning is not in the term nor in someone's mind BUT within the difference => that is not fully present.
Saussure perpetuates that the subject is fully present to itself - self dependant - transparent to oneself...
+> without need of anything else
+> thought = meaning
+> mean what you say - say what you mean
Deconstruction draws out conceptual opppositions
-> analyses what seems to be self-evident----
by this analysis deconstruction shows that these self-evident things are generated by difference. And of what consequences priviledging in language has in dialogue.
Neologism -> to describe oppositions in their similarities.
"Differance" is a neologism ---> arising from Derrida's argument with Saussure's idea of difference.
+> challenge between speech and writing.
-> the priviledging of speech over writing supports a theory of Metaphysics of Presence.
"DIFFERANCE"
how meaning is generated through differentiated relations.
-> spelling. Derrida priviledges writing - difference/differance - the two words cannot be distinguished when spoken (in french)
Derrida's likes of Saussure...
1. Signifier and signified are inseperable.
-> no concepts without signifiers
2. Meaning is produced through differential relations.
Derrida's dislikes of Saussure...
1. Talking about signifiers and signified seperately
-> gives impression there are concepts outside'
-> transcendental signifier - exists outside sign systems
* implies full presence of meaning
2. Priviledges sound over all other sign systems
-> speech -> natural link between thought - sound - meanining ----in support of self present subjectivity.
A) thought precedes language
B) undermines the arbituary nature of the signs
C) reduces sign systems to instrument that the speaker uses to communicate their inner thoughts (pg 14 of Saussure - PHIL reader)
D) completely leaves the world out of the picture (of the sign system) -> the signifier takes force from the world => the world has no impact and we cannot impact the world.
Derrida deconstructs the difference between speech and writing.
Differance; is the systematic play/spacing of differences.
-> via this process the terms themselves signifier.
[NOT a whole lot different from Saussure]
No term is fully present because it refers to what it is not.
Saussure:
Writing distorts/disguises meaning because subject is removed/hidden.
Speech is purer because subject is present -> closer to meaning (say what you mean...clarify)
Derrida"
'Out there' - speaker doesnt interpret...once in the space of dialogue not to be regained or reheard.
-> not fully present
* Ultimately a lack of control once spoken.
Saussure's linguistics Vs. Phenomenology (Heidegger) -> Meaning is everything * one cannot experience without meaning -> importance for existence.
Labels: philosophy