Synopses & Reviews
In this collection of essays Samuel Wheeler discusses Derrida and other “deconstructive” thinkers from the perspective of an analytic philosopher willing to treat deconstruction as philosophy, taking it seriously enough to look for and analyze its arguments. The essays focus on the theory of meaning, truth, interpretation, metaphor, and the relationship of language to the world. Wheeler links the thought of Derrida to that of Davidson and argues for close affinities among Derrida, Quine, de Man, and Wittgenstein. He also demonstrates the propinquity of Plato and Derrida and shows that New Criticism shares deconstructions conception of language. Of the twelve essays in the collection, four are published here for the first time.
The fundamental resemblance between Derrida and such analytic thinkers as Quine, Wittgenstein, and Davidson, the author argues, is that they deny the possibility of meanings as self-interpreting media constituting thoughts and intentions. Derrida argues that some form of magic language has determined the very project of philosophy, and his arguments work out the consequences of denying that there are such self-interpreting mental contents. In addition, Derrida and Davidson agree in denying any “given.” Without a given, questions about realism and idealism cease to have a point. Derrida and Davidson are both committed to the textuality of all significant marks, whether in neurons or on paper. They argue that there is no mode of representation more direct than language.
Review
"Wheeler not only builds a bridge between continental and analytic philosophy; he also traces a useful tow path between philosophy and literary theory."The Comparatist
Synopsis
“Wheeler not only builds a bridge between continental and analytic philosophy; he also traces a useful tow path between philosophy and literary theory.”—The Comparatist
“This is the best job of analytic-Continental bridgebuilding I have come across. Wheeler presents Davidson and Derrida, very convincingly, as two philosophers who have common enemies and are aiming at the same targets. His lucid and carefully argued book is full of original thinking, ingenious analogies, and spirited polemic.” —Richard Rorty,Stanford University
Synopsis
Deconstruction from the perspective of an analytic philosopher, looking for and analyzing its arguments.
Synopsis
These twelve essays, four published here for the first time, treat deconstruction as philosophy, looking for and analyzing its arguments, focusing on the theory of meaning, truth, interpretation, metaphor, and the relationship of language to the world. Argues for close affinities among Derrida, Quine, de Man, and Wittgenstein.
Synopsis
These essays discuss Derrida and other deconstructive thinkers from the perspective of an analytic philosopher, treating deconstruction as philosophy, looking for and analyzing its arguments. The essays focus on the theory of meaning, truth, interpretation, metaphor, and the relationship of language to the world. Wheeler links the thought of Derrida to that of Davidson and argues for close affinities among Derrida, Quine, de Man, and Wittgenstein. Of the twelve essays in the collection, four are published here for the first time.
Synopsis
These twelve essays treat the thought of "deconstructive" philosophers from the perspective of analytic philosophy and relate the works of such thinkers as Davidson, Quine, and Wittgenstein to the writings of Derrida and de Man.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. [277]-282) and index.
About the Author
Samuel C. Wheeler III is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Connecticut.
Table of Contents
Introduction; 1. Indeterminacy of French interpretation: Derrida and Davidson; 2. The extension of deconstruction; 3. Truth conditions, rhetoric, and logical form: Davidson and deconstruction; 4. Davidson, Derrida, and Knapp and Michaels on intentions in interpretation; 5. Metaphor according to Davidson and de Man; 6. True figures: metaphor and the Sorites; 7. A Rabbinic philosophy of language; 8. Deconstruction, Cleanth Brooks, and self-reference; 9. A deconstructive Wittgenstein: on Henry Staten's Wittgenstein and Derrida; 10. Wittgenstein as conservative deconstructor; 11. Deconstructed distinctions are OK; 12. Derrida's difference and Plate's different; Notes; Index.