Looking for a Logic in Derrida

Assessing Hurst's “Plural Logic of the Aporia”

Bibliographic Data

ID20156570
AuthorsDino Galetti (University of the Witwatersrand, corresponding author), Dino R Galetti
Year2010
Volume26
Issue3
Pages84-109
Publication date2010-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Literary Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0256-4718 • E-ISSN: 1753-5387
PublisherUnisa Press (PUBLISHER • ZA)
DOI10.1080/02564718.2010.495502
OpenAlexW2057524970
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited23

Derrida was increasingly overt in later years that he employed a kind of “logic”, in which the classical tools of reasoning have their place. This article thus enquires into whether Derrida can be approached logically – to seek this logic – through the foil of Andrea Hurst's1 work. Hurst suggests Derrida proceeds via one “plural logic”, arising from the nonpresence of any concept, contamination and refusal of choice from binary options. These interact to arrive at aporia. Derrida's system thus works via one “internal/external” binary which proceeds in constructive and destructive moments. However, this article suggests that despite arguing for consistency, Hurst elides contradiction as a tool, thus cannot distinguish error from aporia. A critical criterion which utilises noncontradiction is developed, which suggests some ways by which seeking Derrida's logic could proceed, then points to the importance of suspension of logic in Derrida's work. The immediate practical application is to the question of whether Derrida is politically relevant, and it is hoped the outcome will justify the use of this method in reading Derrida

Constructive · Contradiction · Epistemology · Linguistics · Midstream · Plural · Programming language · Computer Science · Medieval and Classical Philosophy · Philosophy · Philosophy, Ethics, and Existentialism · Psychoanalysis, Philosophy, and Politics · Artificial Intelligence