From: Platt Holden (pholden@sc.rr.com)
Date: Sat Jan 25 2003 - 12:12:23 GMT
Scott:
> Platt said:
> > I don't understand what you mean by the "instinctive sense demands
> > deconstruction as does SOM." The term "deconstruction" is a
> > postmodernist term whereby statements are examined to reveal their
> > underlying power base, usually attributed to Fascist white European
> > males.
>
> I somehow doubt that Nagarjuna's deconstructive efforts were to expose a
> power base, Fascist white European male or otherwise. Nor are Derrida's.
> Foucault's might be so characterized, and there are no doubt a lot of idiot
> academics who follow along. But I really have to wonder where you get your
> information on post-modernism and deconstruction, that prompts you to make
> such blanket characterizations.
I get information on postmodernism and deconstruction from a variety of
sources. For example, a Google search of "deconstructionism" brought
up this entry right at the top:
"Deconstructionism: A term tied very closely to postmodernism,
deconstructionism is a challenge to the attempt to establish any
ultimate or secure meaning in a text. Basing itself in language analysis,
it seeks to "deconstruct" the ideological biases (gender, racial,
economic, political, cultural) and traditional assumptions that infect all
histories, as well as philosophical and religious "truths."
Deconstructionism is based on the premise that much of human
history, in trying to understand, and then define, reality has led to
various forms of domination - of nature, of people of color, of the poor, of
homosexuals, etc. Like postmodernism, deconstructionism finds
concrete experience more valid than abstract ideas and, therefore,
refutes any attempts to produce a history, or a truth. In other words, the
multiplicities and contingencies of human experience necessarily bring
knowledge down to the local and specific level, and challenge the
tendency to centralize power through the claims of an ultimate truth
which must be accepted or obeyed by all."
There are many things about deconstructionism I find illogical but it's
the "domination" part that's really wacko as you seem to agree by
characterizing "idiot academics." Unfortunately, these "idiots" have
wide influence on campuses today, infecting young heads with their
leftwing dogma.
> As mentioned before, I see deconstruction as a salvific tool (in the
> religious sense). And as before I recommend Robert Magliola's book "Derrida
> on the Mend".
Speaking of information sources, I looked up "salvific" in my Random
House unabridged dictionary and came up empty. So in turn I have to
wonder where you get your information that prompts you to use a word
that lacks a common meaning.
Just tweaking you a bit, Scott. Generally we're on the same wavelength
regarding most issues discussed on this site.
Platt
MOQ.ORG - http://www.moq.org
Mail Archive - http://alt.venus.co.uk/hypermail/moq_discuss/
MD Queries - horse@darkstar.uk.net
To unsubscribe from moq_discuss follow the instructions at:
http://www.moq.org/md/subscribe.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Sat Jan 25 2003 - 12:15:57 GMT