Single Idea 21929

[catalogued under 19. Language / A. Nature of Meaning / 9. Ambiguity]

Full Idea

Derrida affirms something like an 'ambiguity of meaning'. But he explicitly contrasts the word he uses to characterize the phenomenon at issue, what he calls 'dissemination', with the traditional concept of 'polysemia' - multiple meanings.

Gist of Idea

Derrida focuses on ambiguity, but talks of 'dissemination', not traditional multiple meanings

Source

Jacques Derrida (Of Grammatology [1967]), quoted by Simon Glendinning - Derrida: A Very Short Introduction 2 'After'

Book Reference

Glendinning,Simon: 'Derrida: a Very Short Intro' [OUP 2011], p.23


A Reaction

The point, I presume, is that there is vagueness and elision to the meanings, rather than a list of options, such as bank/bank. Context (sense-making paths) is crucial for Derrida. Can the analytic apparatus for the logic of vagueness be brought to bear?

Related Idea

Idea 21931 'Dissemination' is opposed to polysemia, since that is irreducible, because of multiple understandings [Derrida, by Glendinning]