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Single Idea 8992

[filed under theme 1. Philosophy / H. Continental Philosophy / 6. Deconstruction ]

Full Idea

The subversive patterns of thought in deconstruction are a last spasm of romanticism: one that has given up hope of an otherworldly redemption, and set out instead to destroy the illusions in which other still believe, the source of their power.

Gist of Idea

Deconstruction is the last spasm of romanticism, now become hopeless and destructive

Source

Roger Scruton (Upon Nothing: Swansea lecture [1993], p.29)

Book Ref

Scruton,Roger: 'Upon Nothing' [University of Swansea 1993], p.29


A Reaction

It seems to be strongly connected with the failure of marxism in Europe, but it also seems to inherit all the values of the Dada movement.


The 11 ideas with the same theme [wisdom can only draw attention to human presuppositions]:

Deconstructing philosophy gives the history of concepts, and the repressions behind them [Derrida]
The movement of 'différance' is the root of all the oppositional concepts in our language [Derrida]
Derrida came to believe in the undeconstructability of justice, which cannot be relativised [Derrida, by Critchley]
Deconstruction is not neutral; it intervenes [Derrida]
We aim to explore the limits of expression (as in Mallarmé's poetry) [Derrida]
Sincerity can't be verified, so fiction infuses speech, and hence reality also [Derrida]
Sentences are contradictory, as they have opposite meanings in some contexts [Derrida]
The idea of being as persistent presence, and meaning as conscious intelligibility, are self-destructive [Derrida, by Glendinning]
On the surface of deconstructive writing, technicalities float and then drift away [Scruton]
Deconstruction is the last spasm of romanticism, now become hopeless and destructive [Scruton]
Post-structuralism focused on exterior determinants of thought, rather than the thinker [Oksala]