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Grenz, S. J. (1996). A Primer on postmodernism . Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans. Jacques Derrida. Powel, J. (1997). Derrida for beginners . New York: Writers and Readers. 2005 G. Lee Griffith, Ph. D. http://personales.ciudad.com.ar/Derrida/fotos3/jaq_derrida_03.jpg. Language vs. Speech.
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Grenz, S. J. (1996). A Primer on postmodernism. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Jacques Derrida Powel, J. (1997). Derrida for beginners. New York: Writers and Readers. 2005 G. Lee Griffith, Ph. D. http://personales.ciudad.com.ar/Derrida/fotos3/jaq_derrida_03.jpg
Language vs. Speech • Language does not have a constant meaning connected to a fixed reality • Speech has a connection to reality that writing does not have • Derrida deconstructs both
Logocentrism • The assumption that something lies beyond our system of linguistic signs to which a written work can refer to substantiate its claim to be an authentic statement. cow =
Rejection of Logocentrism • Rejects written language as the carrier of meaning • Do we trust speech or written language more? • There is no transcendental basis for anchoring our language. • There is no meaning outside the text. • One can never reach “the” interpretation of a text • One reading of a text is a preface to the next.
Transcendental Signified • Sign = word ex. Cow • Signifier = the sound “cow” • Signified = the idea to which the word refers • Referent = the thing itself. • Transcendental Signified = the meaning beyond the universe that give meaning to everything else. Powel, J. (1997). Derrida for beginners. New York: Writers and Readers.
Reason Deconstructs Reason We must question reason with reason. We must use reason to deconstruct reason. eRasno
Deconstruction • Decentering • The use of certain philosophical assumptions to launch an assault on logocentrism. • Movement betweenbinary opposites • Free play betweenvarious readings http://www.goldcoastdemolition.com/images/demolition2.jpg
? cow Derrida’s Primary Goal • To divest us of the logocentrism • By showing the impossibility of drawing a clear line between reality and our linguistic representations. • He wants to wean us from assuming that we can discover the meaning inherent in a text.
Christianity and Logocentrism • There is meaning in the text that corresponds to a reality outside the text • While any one person’s interpretation of the text is flawed • There are several checks on the interpretation of a text • Texts are best understood inside an interpretational community
Christian Checks on Interpretation • No individual interpretations • Consistent with context • Consistent with the rest of Scripture • Consistent with the way one can live • Consistent with the real world.