Re: Restored

Luke,

First of all, you are citing irrelevant sources. D'Souza's book is not only
wrong about almost everything and a completely shallow, simplistic, and
uninformed reading of what it does attempt to discuss, it is not even speaking about
Derrida's writing in the section you cite. It is speaking about the work of
an American feminist who happens to be a one-time acquaintance of mine, Alice
Jardine (with whom, incidentally, I actually disagree about many things).

Also, you are wrong about Derrida. The structure, coherence, meaning, and
clarity you speak of are imposed both externally *and* internally. He says this
explicitly, over and over again.

He also says, and demonstrates all the time, that his work is not a
"rejection" of any of these things. I've read just about everything ever published by
him and some things not yet published, and worked with him on writing of my
own, and he is very insistent and consistent on this point. He certainly
interrogates concepts and unities such as the ones you cite, but never does he reject
them in any way. You are simply either misinformed or you are speaking about
texts you haven't read.

There is no "rejection of absolutes" anywhere in Derrida's work. Find me
some. Cite a specific passage from a specific text where he actually "rejects
absolutes." Demonstrate that you know what you are talking about and not just
miming D'Souza's irrelevant nonsense.

Otherwise, I remain highly skeptical that you know anything about the actual
texts you are supposedly discussing.

In favor of informed discussion,

--John

PS: Derrida is easy to read for me. He makes arguments, reads texts
closely, cites specific language, and offers debates. Daniel is just incoherent
silliness.

PPS: It really helps, when reading Derrida, if you've bothered to read the
texts he is discussing. Otherwise, I'm afraid you will be in over your head.
Such is not the case with Daniel.

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Received on Tue Jul 15 19:55:37 2003