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Derrida's Deconstruction of Structuralism - Prof. Thangaraj, Study notes of Literary Theory

Periyar UniversityLiterary Theory
Prof. Menaka Thangaraj

An overview of jacques derrida's influential essay 'structure, sign, and play in the discourse of the human sciences', which was a key contribution to the post-structuralist movement. The essay introduces derrida's concepts of the 'decentering of structures', 'differance', and his critique of the fixed meanings and stable structures assumed by structuralism. It explores how derrida's approach of 'deconstruction' challenges the traditional understanding of language, meaning, and cultural phenomena. The document delves into the main ideas and key concepts presented in derrida's essay, which had a profound impact on various academic disciplines. With its detailed analysis and insightful exploration of derrida's philosophical perspectives, this document could serve as valuable study material for students and researchers interested in post-structuralism, literary theory, and the broader intellectual discourse surrounding the human sciences.

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2023/2024

Available from 10/12/2024

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Contemporary Literary Theories
Unit:2 Structure, Sign and Play in the Discourse of Human Sciences:
Derrida
Jacques Derrida (15 July 1930-9 October 2004).
Author:
Jacques Derrida was an Algerian born French philosopher. He
developed the philosophy of deconstruction. He belonged to a Jewish
family. He is one of the major figures associated with post-structuralism
and postmodern philosophy. He is a prolific writer and has contributed
more to criticism. His best works include: Speech and Phenomena
(1967) Of Grammatology (1967) Writing and Difference (1967), and
Margins of Philosophy (1972).
Jacques Derrida (1930-2004) presented 'Structure, Sign, and Play in the
Discourse of the Human Sciences' in an international symposium 'The
Languages of Criticism and the Sciences of Man' hosted by the John
Hopkins University in 1966. Among the prominent structuralists who
attended and contributed to the symposium were René Girard, Lucien
Goldmann, Jacques Lacan, Roland Barthes, Jacques Derrida, Richard
Macksey, and Eugenio Donato. Eventually Derrida included this lecture
as an essay in his later work 'Writing and Difference' that was published
in 1967.
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Contemporary Literary Theories Unit:2 Structure, Sign and Play in the Discourse of Human Sciences: Derrida Jacques Derrida (15 July 1930-9 October 2004). Author: Jacques Derrida was an Algerian born French philosopher. He developed the philosophy of deconstruction. He belonged to a Jewish family. He is one of the major figures associated with post-structuralism and postmodern philosophy. He is a prolific writer and has contributed more to criticism. His best works include: Speech and Phenomena (1967) Of Grammatology (1967) Writing and Difference (1967), and Margins of Philosophy (1972). Jacques Derrida (1930-2004) presented 'Structure, Sign, and Play in the Discourse of the Human Sciences' in an international symposium 'The Languages of Criticism and the Sciences of Man' hosted by the John Hopkins University in 1966. Among the prominent structuralists who attended and contributed to the symposium were René Girard, Lucien Goldmann, Jacques Lacan, Roland Barthes, Jacques Derrida, Richard Macksey, and Eugenio Donato. Eventually Derrida included this lecture as an essay in his later work 'Writing and Difference' that was published in 1967.

Introduction: "Structure, Sign, and Play in the Discourse of the Human Sciences" is an influential essay by the French philosopher Jacques Derrida, delivered as a lecture in 1966. In it, Derrida introduces several key concepts that are foundational to his philosophy of deconstruction. Derrida's essay is part of the broader intellectual movement called post- structuralism. This movement questions the stability and fixed meanings assumed by structuralism, a theory that analysed cultural phenomena (like language) in terms of underlying structures. Main concepts Structure: Traditionally, structures are thought of as stable systems with a centre or a fixed point that organizes and holds the system together. In language and culture, these structures are like frameworks or rules that shape how things are understood. Derrida argues that in modern thought, this idea of a stable centre has been challenged or "decentred". Не suggests that no true centre can ever exist because meanings are constantly shifting. The "centre" is not a fixed point but can shift and change. It is a process of destabilizing and questioning the dominant narratives.

Decentring of Structures: Traditional thinking assumes that structures have a fixed, central point that gives them stability and meaning. Derrida discusses how the concept of a fixed center has been questioned and deconstructed over time. He references thinkers like Nietzsche, Freud, and Heidegger, who each contributed to the decentering of established structures in their respective fields (morality, psychology, and ontology). Derrida argues that modern thought has "decentered" these structures, showing that there is no absolute center or foundation. This decentering means that no single point or element can fully explain or stabilize the structure. Differance (a play on "difference" and "deferral"): Derrida introduces the concept of "differance" to explain how meaning is always deferred because it depends on the differences between signs. In other words, the meaning of a sign is never complete in itself but is always in a state of flux, influenced by its relationship to other signs and the context in which it appears. Critique of Structuralism : Structuralism sought to understand cultural phenomena by identifying underlying structures.Derrida criticizes this approach by showing that these structures are not as stable or objective as structuralists believed. They are, instead, open to change and reinterpretation.

Deconstruction: Derrida's approach, known as "deconstruction", involves analyzing and breaking down the assumptions and binary oppositions (like center/periphery, presence/absence) within texts and systems of thought. Deconstruction shows that meanings are not fixed and that there is always more complexity and ambiguity than traditional interpretations suggest. Conclusion: Derrida's essay is a foundational text in post-structuralist thought. It challenges the idea that meanings are stable and that structures have a fixed center. Instead, it proposes that meanings are always shifting and that structures are open to constant reinterpretation and play. This perspective has had a profound influence on a wide range of disciplines, including literature, philosophy, and social sciences.