THE CONCEPT OF

DECONSTRUCTION
SUBMITTED BY,
STEFNA LAIJU [CLASS NO: 9]
VIDHU JOSE [CLASS NO:10]
1 MA ENGLISH
PC 10
THEORIES OF KNOWLEDGE
 JACQUES DERRIDA [1930-2004]

 20TH Century
 Born in Algeria in 1930
 French Philosopher
 Best known for developing a form of semiotic analysis called
‘Deconstruction’
 Developed in the mid 1960s
NOTABLE IDEAS

Deconstruction
Differance
Logocentricism
Arche- writing
 HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT

 Rene Descartes[1596-1650] and Fredrick

Nietzsche [1844-1900] were pioneers in
deconstruction.
 They began to question the objective truth of
language.
 This is also known as Poststructuralism, this
criticism came after Structuralism.
TO UNDERSTAND DECONSTRUCTION
 First, gain a working knowledge of the historical and
philosophical roots of structuralism.

 Second, after examining structuralism, we must investigate the

proposed radical changes Derrida makes in Western
philosophy.

 Finally, we must master new terms coupled with the new

philosophical assumptions.
WHAT IS
DECONSTRUCTION?
“A close and critical reading of a written text to
uncover the wags of thinking that constrain our
impressions or conceptualization of the world”
WHAT DOES DERRIDA MEAN BY
DECONSTRUCTION ?

An approach to understanding the

relationship between text and meaning.
PURPOSE OF DECONSTRUCTION

To show that the usage of language

in a given text, and language as a
whole are irreducibly complex,
unstable or impossible.
 DECONSTRUCTION IN LITERARY
CRITICISM

Questions the fundamental conceptual distinctions or

“oppositions” in western philosophy through a close
examination of the language and logic of philosophical
and literary text.
APORIA IN DECONSTRUCTION
 Greek word

 Expression of doubt

 Derrida use the term to describe a text’s most doubtful

or contradictory moment.

 Inan Aporia, the writers can openly express doubt

about the current topic in which they are writing.
A REVIEW OF STRUCTURALISM
 Language is a primary means of signification
 Signification is how we achieve meaning through
linguistic signs and other symbols.
 Language comprises its own rule governed system to
achieve meaning.
 Language is not the only sign system.
 Act of reading is a cultural and social practice that
contains its own codes.
 Structuralists seek to discover the overall system
[langue] that accounts for the individual interpretation
[parole].
 Challenges structuralist assumptions that a
text’s meaning can be discovered through
and examination of its structural codes.

 It
declares that a text has an almost infinite
number of possible interpretations.

 Some assert that interpretations are as

creative and important as text.
MODERNISM
Human ability to reason and to grasp
truth.
Undoubtable truths supplied by
Mathematics.
Understanding of the physical world
through Science.
Truth is to be discovered scientifically.
 POST MODERNISM
 Challenges modernity’s view of the world.
 No objective reality.
 All definitions of truth are subjective.
 Truth is relative.
 Reality is human construct.
 Meaning is provisional.
FERDINAND DE SAUSSURE

Linguistic sign [word].

Signifier- spoken sound or written symbol.

Signified- mental concept.

 DERRIDA AND SAUSSURE

Derridaasserts that the signified can also only

be known through relationships.

‘I FILLED THE GLASS WITH MILK’

 CHRISTOPHER NORRIS’S DECONSTRUCTION :
THEORY AND PRACTICE
 The active antithesis of everything – accept values.
 Literary texts possessed meaning criticism sought a knowledge of
that meaning.
 Challenges the distinction b/w literature and criticism.
 Challenges the idea that criticism provides a special kind of
knowledge.
 Criticism is always an activity of writing.
 Seen as a vigilant reaction against structuralist thought to tame
and domesticate its best insight.
Thank you