more from this thinker     |     more from this text


Single Idea 4756

[filed under theme 3. Truth / A. Truth Problems / 9. Rejecting Truth ]

Full Idea

Derrida's view is that every discourse is metaphorical, and there is no difference between truth-talk and metaphor.

Gist of Idea

Derrida says that all truth-talk is merely metaphor

Source

report of Jacques Derrida (works [1990]) by Pascal Engel - Truth §2.5

Book Ref

Engel,Pascal: 'Truth' [Acumen 2002], p.59


A Reaction

Right. Note that this is a Frenchman's summary. How would one define metaphor, without mentioning that it is parasitic on truth? Certainly some language tries to be metaphor, and other language tries not to be.


The 11 ideas with the same theme [denial of either meaning or content to the concept of truth]:

If the existence of truth is denied, the 'Truth does not exist' must be true! [Aquinas]
The truth is what gives us the minimum of spiritual effort, and avoids the exhaustion of lying [Nietzsche]
Truth is just a name for verification-processes [James]
Heidegger says truth is historical, and never absolute [Heidegger, by Polt]
Truth is just an error insufficiently experienced [Cioran]
Eventually every 'truth' is guaranteed by the police [Cioran]
Truth doesn't arise from solitary freedom, but from societies with constraints [Foucault]
Derrida says that all truth-talk is merely metaphor [Derrida, by Engel]
True thoughts are inaccessible, in the subconscious, prior to speech or writing [Derrida]
Rorty seems to view truth as simply being able to hold one's view against all comers [Rorty, by O'Grady]
In the early 1930s many philosophers thought truth was not scientific [Field,H]