Jacques Derrida Flashcards
(36 cards)
Who is Jacques Derrida?
A French-Algerian philosopher who developed the concept of deconstruction. He is known for questioning how language, meaning, and philosophy work.
What is deconstruction in simple terms?
It’s a way of reading texts that looks for hidden contradictions, showing that meaning is never stable or complete.
Is deconstruction a method?
No. Derrida says it’s not a tool or method applied from the outside. It happens from within a text when it’s read carefully.
What are binary oppositions in Western thought?
Pairs like truth/error, presence/absence, speech/writing where one side is usually valued more than the other.
Why does Derrida challenge binary oppositions?
Because they falsely simplify complex ideas, often promote hierarchies, and break down under scrutiny. Derrida shows they are unstable and rely on what they try to exclude
Give an example of a binary Derrida critiques.
Speech vs. writing — philosophy often values speech as more ‘authentic,’ but Derrida shows writing is just as important.
What is différance?
Différance is Derrida’s idea that meaning in language comes from both difference (how a word is not other words) and deferral (how meaning is always delayed because we explain words using other words). It shows that meaning is never fixed or fully present — it’s always shifting.
Why is différance important?
It shows meaning is never fully present. Words only mean something by being different from others and by deferring final meaning.
Analogy for différance?
Think of chasing the end of a rainbow — it moves as you move. Like meaning, you never fully reach it.
What is a signifier?
The sound or written form of a word — like the letters ‘T-R-E-E’ or how it sounds.
What is a signified?
The idea or concept behind the word — like the image of a tree in your head.
How does Derrida challenge the signifier/signified link?
He says the connection isn’t fixed. The signified is also shaped by other signifiers — there’s no final meaning.
Analogy for signifier/signified?
Like looking up a word in a dictionary that leads to more words — you never find the ‘final’ meaning.
What does deconstruction do?
It reveals the hidden contradictions and assumptions in texts or arguments.
Can a deconstructed text be fixed?
No. Even the new interpretation is open to further deconstruction — it’s a never-ending process.
How is deconstruction different from criticism?
It doesn’t just find flaws; it shows how systems break down from within, using their own logic.
What does Derrida mean by ‘metaphysics of presence’?
The idea that truth is fully present and knowable — Derrida says this is an illusion.
Why does Derrida call philosophy a ‘heuristic fiction’?
Because it simplifies reality by using oppositions and suppresses other possibilities.
What happens when you apply deconstruction to philosophy?
It reveals how even logical, clear ideas rely on exclusions and unstable assumptions.
How is deconstruction useful in politics?
It helps reveal the hidden power structures in language — like how terms like ‘terrorist’ are used.
How does deconstruction relate to justice?
Derrida argues that justice goes beyond written laws or fixed definitions — it’s something we can never fully grasp. Deconstruction helps us stay open to voices that are excluded or ignored, making justice an ongoing and unfinished process.
Example: In the civil rights movement, laws were said to offer “equal protection,” but in practice, many groups were excluded. Deconstruction reveals how legal language can mask injustice — encouraging society to listen to those excluded voices and move toward a deeper form of justice.
How does deconstruction relate to law?
Law is a system of rules (fixed), but justice is more flexible and open — deconstruction points to this gap.
Why does Derrida focus so much on language?
Because meaning, truth, and identity are all shaped by how we use language — and language is unstable.
Is it possible to have one final meaning?
No. Meaning is always changing, depending on context, time, and difference.
