[lit-ideas] Re: The Order of Aurality
- From: Phil Enns <phil.enns@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 6 Mar 2012 12:00:33 -0500
Eric wrote:
"That is only a Derrida game. It is only a destructive game that
postmodernists love to play against each other, a game that Lil'
Orpheus -- still working on his thesis and now home for the holidays
-- can use to shock his logocentric pa(rents) and get the upper hand
on dear old deconstructed dad.
It also does seem to be a "self-regarding dogma" in a way. It is
precisely those fundamental, primary, and central concerns of literary
theory that motivate people to read Derrida. Or is it the sophist
Gorgias iterated as Derrida?"
I am reluctant to dismiss Derrida's criticism of talk of what is
fundamental, primary or central, as being 'only' anything. Yes, I
think Derrida got carried away with his own cleverness, but I also
think there is some solid philosophical thinking going on, even if it
is mostly warmed up Kant.
As to whether Derrida is a contemporary version of Gorgias, I don't
think he is. Derrida did seem to believe that his talk of
deconstruction, logocentrism and differance was in the service of
justice. This connection was certainly lost on the vast majority of
lit crit types, who as you note, seemed to be working out their daddy
issues.
I do think Derrida is worth reading for philosophical insight, but it
requires patience in sifting out what is worthwhile. (Does one sift
out what is worthwhile or what is worthless?)
Sincerely,
Phil
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