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Deconstruction
In 1967, Jacques Derrida introduced a new method to philosophy, which he called deconstruction. Put simply, this is the idea that if something is constructed it can be de-constructed.
That applies to objects in the world, such as chairs, cars and houses, but it also applies to the concepts we use, such as truth, justice and God. These ‘things’, which we tend to assume are natural, are in fact culturally constructed.
Importantly, deconstruction is not destruction. The concept or object is still there at the end.
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Why it Matters?
Derridean thinking has influenced various works in multiple domains like literature, film and music. Derrida’s work spawned a whole genre in music called ‘hauntology’ which is a philosophical investigation of what there isn't.
While all these works openly deconstruct themselves, f...
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Steps to Deconstruct the World(Part 2)
- Look for contradictions. Look where the spirit of the text is actually different, or opposed to, what’s actually going on. Hollywood movies are great for this.
- Read against the grain. Take a text, find what it seems to advocate, and look in the oppos...
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Criticism of Derridean Thinking
Some critics have accused Derridean thinking of allowing for any interpretation or, worse still, of saying any interpretation is equally valid. The first is perhaps true, the second is not. Derrida was always clear that there were more effective and less effective ways of reading a text....
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Steps To Deconstruct the World(Part 3)
- Don’t listen to what the author says. Finally, thinking like Derrida means trusting one’s own analysis of a text – even, or perhaps especially, if it contradicts the authors’ idea of what they’re doing. For Derrida, the author’s interpretation of her or his text is no more v...
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Steps to Deconstruct the World(Part 1)
- Get comfortable- you’re planning to overthrow every preconceived idea. Start by closing the door.
- Find something to deconstruct. Anything text can be deconstructed: poems, shopping list, podcast, this essay.
- Get deconstructing.
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Related collections
Other curated ideas on this topic:
Deconstructionism
In 1967 Jacques Derrida introduced a new method to philosophy named deconstruction.
It is the idea that if something is constructed, it can be de-constructed. Not just things like chairs, cars and houses but also concepts such as truth, justice, and God. Derrida reasoned t...
The ‘metaphysics of presence’
Deconstruction is not destruction. The concept or object is still there. To think deconstructively is not only to question accepted truths but to ask in whose interests it is if they are accepted.
Jacques Derrida was fascinated by the many factors that went into constructi...
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