I think Jim's point was simply that a person should understand the ideas or opinions he is responding to before he undertakes to critique them. For instance, a person taking a course in Derrida should understand whatever part of Derrida is being studied before responding to it. Free foot rub (from Jim!) for the first person to post a witty rejoinder about Derrida and "understanding." -- Matt Kozusko mkozusko@parallel.park.uga.edu