2. Jacques Derrida  2005 G. Lee Griffith, Ph. D. http://personales.ciudad.com.ar/Derrida/fotos3/jaq_derrida_03.jpg Powel, J. (1997). Derrida for beginners. New York: Writers and Readers. Grenz, S. J. (1996). A Primer on postmodernism. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans

3. 2 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

4. 3 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 =

5. 4 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.

6. 5 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.

7. 6 Reason Deconstructs Reason We must question reason with reason. We must use reason to deconstruct reason.

8. 7 Deconstruction Decentering The use of certain philosophical assumptions to launch an assault on logocentrism. Movement between binary opposites Free play between various readings http://www.goldcoastdemolition.com/images/demolition2.jpg

9. 8 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. cow ?

10. 9 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

11. 10 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.