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Deconstructing Structuralism: Jacques Derrida's Critique

Explore Jacques Derrida's criticism of structuralism and his concept of deconstruction. Learn how he challenges binaries and deconstructs traditional philosophies like Plato's. Discover the complexities of Derrida's work in the human sciences discourse.

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Deconstructing Structuralism: Jacques Derrida's Critique

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  1. Jacques DerridaStudent Edition Structure, Sign, and Play in the Discourse of the Human Sciences Edited by: Dr. Kay Picart and Brett Ader

  2. Early Derrida • Born 1930 in Algiers (French colony in N. Africa) • Born into Jewish family • Experienced cultural marginalization • Expelled from first school because his presence exceeded the allowed amount of Jewish students. • Left second school because of anti-Semitic hostilities

  3. 1966 John Hopkins colloquium • The purpose of this colloquium was to introduce Structuralism • Structuralism promised to provide such fields as anthropology and literary criticism with a scientific basis of study • Presenting his paper last, Derrida put all of Structuralism into doubt.

  4. What is Structuralism? • __________________________________________________________________ • __________________________________________________________________ • ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

  5. Levi-Strauss • He named structuralism • He applied structuralism to his anthropological work. • He sought in his works to create a “grammar” of myths based on his analysis of Nambikwara in S. America • He believed his research would reveal a structure for myths related to all cultures

  6. What are some of Derrida’s criticisms of structuralism? • ________________________________________________________________________ • ________________________________________________________________________ • ________________________________________________________________________

  7. What is deconstruction? • ______________________________________________________ • ______________________________________________________ • ______________________________________________________

  8. Why, for Derrida, are binaries problematic? • ______________________________________________________ • ______________________________________________________ • ______________________________________________________

  9. Deconstructing Plato • Plato condemns imitation • Yet, he himself is speaking through the voice of Socrates • Therefore, Plato is an imitator

  10. Dance and Play of Differences • If Plato is an imitator, then his work is unreliable • If Plato’s work is unreliable, then imitation is an acceptable means of literary expression • Therefore, if imitation is acceptable then Plato’s work is reliable • And the cycle begins again

  11. Question • In your opinion, how successfully could Deconstruction be used for any political agenda?

  12. Works Cited • Derrida, Jacques. “Structure, Sign, and Play in the Discourse of the Human Sciences.” Critical Theory Since Plato Edited by Hazard Adams 1992 Heinle & Heinle • Powell, Jim. Derrida for Beginners Dansbury, CT: Writers and Readers 1997 • Palmer, Donald. Structuralism and Post Structuralism for Beginners Dansbury, CT: Writers and Readers 1997

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