Priest, Graham - Derrida and Self-reference. AJP, 1994

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Derrida and self-referenceGraham Priest

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aUniversity of Queensland

Published online: 02 Jun 2006.

To cite this article:Graham Priest (1994) Derrida and self-reference, Australasian

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Australasian Journa l o f Philosophy

Vol. 72, No. 1; M arch 1994

D E R R I D A A N D S E L F -R E F E R E N C E

G r a h a m P r ie s t

P h i l o s o p h e r s a r e w o n t t o p r o d u c e t h e o r ie s o f v e r y g e n e r a l i m p o r t c o n c e rn i n g , f o r

e x a m p l e , t r u th , m e a n i n g , k n o w l e d g e a n d s o o n , B e c a u s e o f th e i r g e n e r a l i m p o r t i t i s

n o t u n c o m m o n f o r t h e s e t h e o r ie s to a p p l y to th e m s e l v e s . I t i s a l s o n o t u n c o m m o n

f o r t h e re s u l t to b e a c o n t r a d i c t i o n , u s u a l l y u n i n t e n d e d . T h u s , f o r e x a m p l e , K a n t

( u n ) h a p p i l y s a y s t h a t t h i n g s i n t h e m s e l v e s c a n n o t b e t a l k e d a b o u t , t h u s t a l k i n g a b o u t

t h e m ; o r t h e W i t t g e n s t e i n o f th e

Tractatus

e x p l a i n s c e r t a i n f a c ts a b o u t t h e s t ru c t u r e

o f l a n g u a g e , t h e w o r l d a n d t h e r e l a t io n s h i p b e tw e e n t h e m , t h e u p s h o t o f w h i c h i s

t h a t s u c h f a c t s c a n n o t b e e x p r e s s e d .

T h e r e a r e o b v i o u s l y g e n e r a l i s s u e s h e r e w h i c h a r e w o r t h y o f c o n s id e r a ti o n ; h o w -

e v e r, I d o n o t i n t e n d t o d i s c u s s t h e m n o w ? M y a i m i s to ( a t l e a s t s t a rt t o ) c o n s i d e r

h o w a m o r e r e c e n t p h i l o s o p h e r f i t s i n t o t h e s a m e p a t t e rn : D e r r i d a . T o s e e r o u g h l y

w h y h e f i t s, i t i s u s e fu l , e s p e c i a l l y f o r t h o s e m o r e f a m i l i a r w i t h a n a l y t i c p h i l o s o p h y ,

t o c o m p a r e h i m w i t h ( t h e e a r l i e r ) W i t t g e n s t e i n . A t

Tractatus

3 . 23 W i t t g e n s t e i n s a y s

T h e r e q u i r e m e n t t h a t s im p l e s i g n s b e p o s s i b l e i s t h e re q u i r e m e n t t h a t s e n s e b e

d e t e r m i n a t e . W h a t h e m e a n s i s t h a t if t h e r e w e r e n o t s o m e w o r d s t h a t h a v e t h e i r

m e a n i n g i n a d i r e ct w a y , u n m e d i a t e d b y o t h e r w o r d s , t h e n a s s e rt io n s w o u l d h a v e n o

d e t e r m i n a t e s e n s e . W i t t g e n s t e i n t h i n k s t h a t s e n s e m u s t b e d e t e r m i n a t e ; h e n c e h e

p o s t u l a t e s th e e x i s t e n c e o f s i m p l e o b j e c t s to b e t h e m e a n i n g s o f c e rt a in s i gn s .

D e r r i d a , o n t h e o t h e r h a n d , d e n i e s t h e e x i s t e n c e o f a n y s u c h t h i n g s , a n d s o i n f e r s

t ha t se n s e i s n o t d e t e r m i n a t e . D e r r i d a s v i e w s a p p l y t o l a n g u a g e i n g e n e r a l, a n d

t h e r e fo r e m u s t a p p l y t o h i s o w n w r i t i n g s . A n d ,

p r i m a f a c ie

c o n t r a d i c t i o n s s e e m t o

f o ll o w . F o r e x a m p l e , i n m a k i n g t h e c la i m t h a t l a n g u a g e h a s n o d e t e r m i n a te s e n se ,

D e r r i d a s e e m s t o b e m a k i n g a c la i m w i t h d e t er m i n a t e se n se . W e w i l l c o m e b a c k t o

t h is i n d u e c o u r s e . L e t u s s t a r t w i t h a m o r e c a r e f u l l o o k a t D e r r i d a s v i e w s . 2

I . P r e s e n c e

D e r r i d a is a l i t e r a r y p h i l o s o p h e r . T h i s is t r u e i n t wo s e n s e s . T h e f i rs t s e n s e i s t h a t in

w h i c h h i s w o r k f a l l s a c ro s s t h e t r a d i t i o n a l d i v i d e b e t w e e n p h i l o s o p h y a n d l i t e r a ry

c r i ti c i s m . I n w h a t f o l l o w s I s h a l l n o t a t t e m p t t o c o n s i d e r a l l h i s w o r k , b u t o n l y t h a t

p h i l o s o p h i c a l p a r t w h i c h b e a r s o n t h e t h e m e o f t h e d e t e r m i n a c y o f s e n s e ( t h o u g h ,

a r g u a b l y , t h i s i s

the

c e n t ra l p a rt o f h i s w o r k ) ) T h e s e c o n d s e n s e i n w h i c h D e r r id a is

a l i t e r a r y p h i l o s o p h e r i s th a t , fo r w h a t e v e r r e a s o n , h e o f t e n e s c h e w s t r a d i t i o n a l

p h i l o s o p h i c a l s ty l e s o f w r i t i n g i n f a v o u r o f s t y l e s th a t m i g h t b e m o r e a t h o m e i n l it -

For a start, see [6], [10 , ch. 4], and [11].

2 W h at ollows is a simple exposition of Derrida s views. I make no attempt to evaluate them.

3 Fo r a general introduction to Derrida s though t, a num ber of works can be con sulted, e.g., [9].

The ground w e w ill cover is well traversed in [1].

103

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104

Derrida And Sel f Reference

e r a r y w o r ks . T h i s m a k e s h i m s i ngu l a r l y d i ff i c u lt t o in t e rp r e t. F o r th i s r e a s on I a m

uns u r e t ha t I ha ve unde r s t ood h i m . Bu t t he n - - i f D e r r i da is r i gh t - - t he r e i s pe r -

ha ps no t h i ng de t e r m i na t e t o unde r s t a nd .

St i l l , put t ing this c a v e a t a s ide , l e t u s s t a rt w i t h D e r r i d a s p r i nc i pa l ph i l o s oph i c a l

t he si s : t he de n i al o f p r e s e nc e . I n a nu t s he ll , a p r e s e nc e i s s om e k i nd o f non - l i ngu i s -

t i c e n t i ty w h i c h s e r ve s t o p r ov i de a de t e r m i ne r o f s e ns e; D e r r i da o f t e n c a l ls it t he

t r a n s c e n d e n t a l s i g n i f i e d . Cl e a r l y , T r a c t a r i a n ob j e c t s a r e p r e s e nc e s ; s o a r e L oc ke a n

ideas ; so a re the en t it ie s o f F re gea n sem ant ics ( senses , con cept s , e tc ) . De r r ida does

not expl i c i t ly se t h i s s igh t s on these ; the examples he does c i t e a re th ings such as

e s s e nc e , Be i ng a nd , pa rt ic u l a r ly , c ons c i ous ne s s . T h e s e a r e , o f c ou r s e , s om e o f t he

c e n t r a l c onc e p t s f r om W e s t e r n m e t a phys i c s . I n f a c t , D e r r i da t a ke s m e t a phys i c s to

be e xa c t l y t ha t s ub je c t t ha t e ndo r s e s t he e x i s te nc e a nd a c t i on o f s om e no t i on o f p r e s -

ence . A s he pu t s i t [4 , p .20] :

. . t h e en t ir e h is t o ry o f m e t a p h y s i c s . . , i m p o s e (s ) , a n d w il l n e v e r ce a s e to

i m p os e up on s e m i o l og i c a l s c i e nc e i n it s en t i r et y t h is f unda m e n t a l que s t f o r a

t ra n sc e nd e n ta l s i g n i f i e d . . .

W he t he r D e r r i da i s r igh t t o se e t he w ho l e o f W e s t e r n m e t a phy s i c s i n the l i gh t o f t he

ph i l o s o phy o f l a ngua g e i s a n in t e r e st i ng que s t i on w h i c h w e ne e d no t fo l l ow up he r e .

I I . . . a n d A b s e n c e

S o m uc h f o r w ha t p r e s e nc e i s ; ne x t t o i t s de n i a l . W he n D e r r i da de n i e s p r e s e nc e he

de n i e s t he e x i s t e nc e o f a ny e n t i t i e s w h i c h g r ound m e a n i ng , be c a us e e i t he r t he e n t i -

t ie s t he m s e l ve s do n o t e x i s t o r, i f t he y do , t he y c a n no t f unc t i on i n t he r e qu i r ed w a y .

T h e n e x t q u e s t i o n i s o b v i o u s : i f t h i n g s d o n o t h a v e m e a n i n g i n v i r t u e o f s i g n i f y in g

t r a ns c e nde n t a l s i gn if i e ds, how do the y ha ve m e a n i ng? D e r r i da g i ve s a n a ns w e r to

t h i s que s t i on by w a y o f a c r i t i que o f s t r uc t u r a l i s t t he o r i e s o f m e a n i ng , a nd pa r t i c u -

l a r ly tha t o f Saussure . 4

S t r uc t u r a li s m a l r e a dy r e j e c ts t he v i e w t ha t a ph r a se m e a ns i n v i r t ue o f a c onc e p t

i t e xp r e s s e s i n a nd o f it se l f. I t obs e r ve s t ha t ph r a s e s c o m e i n fa m i l i e s, o f t e n b i na r y

fami l i e s , and c la ims tha t a phrase has i t s meaning in v i r tue of i t s re l a t ionsh ips to the

o t he r ph r a s e s i n t ha t f a m i l y , a nd , pa r t i c u la r l y , be c a us e o f i ts c on t r a s t i ng p l a c e i n t he

f a m i ly . T h u s , f o r e x a m p l e , c o n s id e r th e w o r d r e d . T h i s b e l o n g s t o t h e f a m i l y o f

c o l ou r w o r ds { r e d, g r e e n , b l u e . . . } , a nd w ha t m a ke s i t m e a n r e d , is j u s t t ha t i t doe s

a o t m e a n g r e e n , b l ue , e t c. S i m i l a r l y f o r b l u e . O r , t o r e m ove t he a ir o f ci r c u la r i ty

f r om t h is , w e c o u l d pu t i t a s f o l l ow s : e a c h o f t he w or d s i n the f a m i l y ha s m e a n i ng i n

v i r t ue o f it s ne t w or k o f r e la t i ons o f oppo s i t i on w i t h t he o t he r m e m be r s o f the f a m i l y ,

tha t is , it s d i f fe rence f rom them.

T h i s m u c h o f s t ru c t u r al is m D e r r i d a a c c e p t s , b u t o t h e r a s p e c ts o f S a u s s u r e s

t houg h t he r ej e ct s. C r uc i a l l y , he r e je c t s S a u s s u r e s no t i on o f t he si gn . A c c o r d i n g t o

t h is , t he s i gn i s c om po s e d o f t w o a s p e c t s : the s i gn i fi e r ( t ha t is , the ph ys i c a l t oke n )

T h i scan be found in the early pages of [2], and is u sefully summarised in [4, pp.19 ft].

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Graham P riest 105

a n d t h e s i g n i f i e d ( t h e c o n c e p t i t e x p r e s s e s ) . T h o u g h t h e s ig n m a y b e d e p e n d e n t f o r

i ts i d e n t i ty o n i t s p l a c e a n e t w o r k o f r e l a t i o n s , t h e s i g n i f i e r i s s t i ll c o n c e p t u a l i s e d a s

c o r r e s p o n d i n g t o a u n i q u e c o n c e p t , t h e s i g n i f i e d ; a n d t h i s i s a fo r m o f p r e s e n c e .

B u t h o w a r e w e t o l o c a t e t h i s c o n c e p t ? N o t , a c c o r d i n g to S a u s s u r e , i n w r i t i n g .

F o r w h e n a w o r d o r l o n g e r li n g u i s t ic s t ri n g - - w h i c h w e c a n c a l l a t e x t - - i s w r i tt e n ,

i t c o n t i n u e s t o e x i s t i n d e p e n d e n t l y o f i t s u t t e r in g , a n d c a n c o m e t o t a k e o n a l l k i n d s

o f d i f f e r e n t m e a n i n g s i n v i r tu e o f n e w c o n t e x t s . ( D e r r i d a c a l l s t h i s t h e i t e rab i l i t y o f

t h e t e x t. ) F o r e x a m p l e , S h e l l e y ' s p o e m O z y m a n d i a s t e l l s o f a t r a v e l l e r w h o c o m e s

a c r o s s t h e t r u n k o f a s ta t u e i n t h e m i d d l e o f a d e s e r t . T h i s i s a l l t h a t re m a i n s o f a

o n c e g r e a t e m p i r e . O n i t a r e w r i t t e n th e w o r d s :

M y n a m e i s O z y m a n d i a s , K i n g o f K i n g s:

L o o k o n m y w o r k s , y e M i g h t y , a n d d e s p ai r

w h i c h o b v i o u s l y m e a n t s o m e t h i n g q u i t e d i f fe r e n t i n t h e i r o r i g i n a l c o n te x t .

T o f i n d t h e c o n c e p t w e t h e r e f o r e h a v e t o l o o k t o t h e i n t e n t i o n s , i . e . , c o n s c i o u s -

n e s s , o f t h e U t te re r. ( C o n s c i o u s n e s s th e r e f o r e b e c o m e s a k i n d o f p r e s e n c e . ) B u t

w h a t w o u l d w e f i n d i f w e e x a m i n e d t h e in t e n t io n s o f th e u t te r er ? T h e y w o u l d , p r e -

s u m a b l y , b e s o m e t h i n g l i k e : i n u t t e r i n g s u c h a n d s u c h I i n t e n d e d t o m e a n s o a n d s o .

W e d o n o t , t h e r e fo r e , f in d a n y t h i n g t o g r o u n d m e a n i n g ; j u s t m o r e w o r d s ( s o a n d s o ).

A n d i f w e w e r e t o a s k f o r th e m e a n i n g o f

t h e s e

w o r d s w e w o u l d m e r e ly f in d

m o r e

w o r d s . H e n c e , w e n e v e r b r e a k o u t o f t h e c ir c l e o f w o r d s i n t o a r e a l m o f u l t i m a t e

m e a n i n g s . A n y w o r d i s re f e r r e d to f u rt h e r w o r d s i n d e f i n i t e l y , a n d t h i s r e l a t io n s h i p

o f r e f e r ra l i s j u s t a s c o n s t i tu t i v e o f m e a n i n g a s S a u s s u r e ' s d i f f e r en c e s . A s D e r r i d a

puts i t [ 4 , p .26 ] :

W h e t h e r i n th e o r d e r o f s p o k e n o r w r i t t e n d i s c o u r s e , n o e l e m e n t c a n fu n c t i o n

a s a s i g n w i t h o u t r e f e r r i n g t o a n o t h e r e l e m e n t w h i c h i t s e l f i s n o t s i m p l y p r e -

s en t . T h i s in t e r w e a v i n g r e su l ts i n ea c h ' e l e m e n t ' - - p h o n e m e o r g r a p h e m e

b e i n g c o n s t i t u t e d o n t h e b a s i s o f t h e t ra c e w i t h i n i t o f t h e o t h e r e l e m e n t s

o f t h e c h a i n o r s y s t e m .

T h u s , m e a n i n g i s c o n s t i t u t e d b y t h e t o t a l n e t w o r k o f b o t h d i f f e r e n c e s a n d d e f e r r a l s.

F o r th i s n e t w o r k D e r r id a c o i n s t h e n e o l o g i s m

d i f f~ r a n c e .

H e n c e , m e a n i n g i s c o n -

s t it u t ed b y , a s h e p u t s i t , t h e ' p l a y ' o f

d i f f d r a n c e .

I I I . D e c o n s t r u c t i o n

B e f o r e w e a r e fi n i s h e d w i t h D e r r i d a ' s b a s i c n o t io n s , t h e r e i s a n o t h e r w e n e e d t o d i s -

c u s s: d e c o n s t r u c t io n . D e r r i d a , a s I h a v e s a i d , d e n i e s p r e se n c e . H e d o e s n o t , a s f a r

a s I a m a w a r e , p r o v i d e a g e n e r a l a r g u m e n t a g a i n s t p r e s e n c e . R a t h e r , w h a t h e d o e s i s

t a ke e x a m p l e s o f p h i l o s o p h i c a l o r m e t a p h y s i c a l t ex t s w h i c h a d v o c a t e p r e s e n c e , a n d

s h o w t h a t t h e y a r e s e l f - u n d e r c u t t i n g in s o m e s e n s e . T h i s i s c a l l e d ' d e c o n s t r u c t i o n ' .

T h o u g h t h e d e t a i l s o f h o w t o d e c o n s t r u c t d e p e n d o n t h e t e x t it s e l f, a n d s o v a r y f r o m

c a s e t o c a s e , t h e r e i s a g e n e r a l f ra m e .

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106 Derrida An d Self-Reference

A m e t a p h y s i c a l te x t a d v o c a t e s s o m e f o r m o f p r e s e n c e , p . B y t h e S a u ss u r i an

sem iot i cs , th i s d raw s i ts s ense f ro m i t s oppos i t e , non- p . A nd t h i s m e a n s t ha t t he pa i r

, i n s om e s e ns e , p r ov i de a n und e r - p i nn i ng s t r uc t u re f o r t he te x t. ( T he r e

m a y , o f c ou r s e , be o t he r pa i r s p r ov i d i n g o t he r a s pe c t s o f the s tr uc t u r e .) Bu t the

m e m be r s o f t he pa ir a r e no t on e qua l t e r m s . S i nc e i t i s p t ha t is s uppos e d t o be

do i ng a l l t he m e t a phy s i c a l w o r k , p i s t he dom i na n t m e m be r o f t he pai r. I n the j a r -

gon o f d e c ons t r uc t i on , i t is p r i v i le ge d .

D e c o ns t r uc t i on c om e s i n t w o s t a ge s ( o r pe r ha ps a s p e c t s i s a be t t e r w o r d , si nc e

t he s e m a y be c a r r i e d ou t s i m u l t a ne ous l y t o a c e r t ai n e x t e n t) . T h e f ir s t is t o r e ve r se

t he p r i v i l e g i ng , t o m a ke n o n - p t h e d o m i n a n t m e m b e r o f th e p a ir . T h i s is d o n e b y

s how i ng how , i n c on t r a s t t o t he i t s e xp l i c i t c l a i m s , t he t e x t i m p l i c i t l y s how s t ha t

n o n - p i s t he m or e i m por t a n t a nd f und a m e n t a l o f t he pa ir . T h i s s t a ge is c a ll e d , f o r

obv i ous r e a s ons , r e ve r s a l . T h e ne x t s t a ge , no w t ha t bo t h m e m be r s o f t he pa i r a r e

on a n e qua l f oo t i ng , i s t o e xa m i ne t he ve r y g r o und o f t he d i s ti nc t ion be t w e e n p a nd

non- p , a nd s ho w t ha t i t i s a fa l s e a n ti the s is . T he r e i s a s pa c e be t w e e n t he m i n w h i c h

s o m e n e w c o n c e p t l i e s , w h i c h b o t h u n i t e s a n d d i f f e r e n t i a t e s t h e p a i r , b u t i s n o t

r e duc i b l e t o e it her . T h i s s ta ge is c a l le d d i s p l a c e m e n t . I n m a ny r e s pe c t s it i s r e m i -

n i s c e n t o f t he t h ir d s t a ge o f H e ge l s d i a le c ti c , s T he ne w c o nc e p t s in que s t i on m i g h t

be s a i d t o t r a ns c e nd au f he b t ) t he oppos i t i on ; t he y a r e o f t e n c a l le d und e c i da b l e s by

( a r a th e r te n u o u s ) a n a l o g y w i th G f d e l s T h e o r e m . T h e c o n c e p t s a r e e x p r e ss e d b y

w or ds t ha t oc c u r i n t he o r i g i na l t e x t , bu t c om e t o t a ke on a w ho l e ne w m e a n i ng .

T h e s e p r o v i d e m u c h o f th e d i s t in c t iv e v o c a b u l a r y o f d e c o n s tr u c t i o n : s u p p l e m e n t ,

h y m e n , p a r e r g o n , etc.

H ow de c o ns t r uc t i on i s s upp os e d t o unde r c u t t he t e x t i s a s f o l l ow s . F i rs t, the

r e ve r s a l s how s t ha t t he r e a r e c e r t a in c on t r a d i c ti ons i m p l i c i t i n t he p r e t e ns ions o f t he

tex t. Sh ow ing tha t a tex t i s s e l f - re fe ren t ia l ly inco ns i s t en t in th i s w ay i s , o f course , a

v e r y t r ad i t io n a l f o r m o f c r it iq u e . T h e r e s u l t o f t h e s e c o n d p h a s e i s m u c h m o r e

n o v e l . T h e u n d e c i d a b l e c o n c e p t t h a t e m e r g e s i n t h is u n d e r c u t s t h e d i s t i n c t io n

be t w e e n , a nd he nc e t he s e ns e o f , t he o r ig i na l c on t r a s ti ng pa i r o f c onc e p t s , a nd a

f or t ior i a ny a t t e m p t t o u s e t he c on t r a s t t o g r oun d a n a c c oun t o f m e a n i ng ( p r e s enc e ) .

I t w o u l d b e po i n t l e s s f o r p r e se n t pu r p os e s t o e x a m i ne a ll D e r r i da s a pp l i c at i ons

o f th i s fr a m e . H o w e v e r , l et u s qu i c k l y l ook a t one e xa m pl e o f it, i f on l y t o pu t s om e

f l e s h on the s e r a t he r a bs t r a ct bone s . T h i s i s D e r r i da s d i s c us si on o f Ro us s e a u i n D e

l a G r am m at o l og i e . 6 L i k e S a u s s u r e, R o u s s e a u t a k e s s p e e c h t o b e a f o r m o f p re s e n c e

i n a w a y t ha t w r i t i ng i s no t ( s i nc e it is a l w a ys p r e s e n t t o c ons c i ous ne s s ) . T h e c ou p l e

s pe e c h / w r i t i ng i s t he r e f o r e the und e r l y i n g s t r uc t u r e o f h i s t ex t , s pe e c h be i ng t he

p r i v i le ge d m e m be r . D e r r i da a r gue s t ha t Ro us s e a u i s f o r c e d t o r e c ogn i s e , de sp i te h i s

a vo w e d t hes is , t ha t w r i t i ng i s a n a bs o l u t e l y ne c e s s a r y s up p l e m e n t o f spe e c h ; t hus

w r i ti n g is c o n c e d e d t o b e o f m o r e i m p o r ta n c e . T h e u n d e c i d a b l e t h a t e m e r g e s f r o m

t h e d i s c u s s i o n i s t h e n o t i o n o f a s u p p l e m e n t , w h i c h d e s c r i b e s t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p

b e t w e e n s p e e c h a n d w r i ti n g b u t, i n g o o d H e g e l e a n f a s h io n , m e a n s b o t h r e p l a c e -

m e n t a n d c o m p l e t i o n , a n d s o d e s tr o y s a n y c l e a r o p p o s i t io n b e t w e e n s p e e c h a n d

wr i t ing .

Tho ugh see [4, p.43].

A summ ary s given in [7, pp.126-127]; ano ther can be found in [8].

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raham Priest 107

I V . C r a t y l u s P r o b l e m

A f t e r t h i s w h i s t l e - s t o p to u r o f D e r r i d a s v i e w s , l e t u s n o w t u r n t o t h e i r s e l f- r e f e r-

e n c e. D e r r i d a h a s g i v e n u s a n a c c o u n t o f l a n g u a g e , o f h o w i t m e a n s a n d h o w i t

d o e s n t . B u t D e r r i d a is h i m s e l f u s i n g l a n g u a g e t o e x p r e s s h i s v i e w s , s o w e c a n

a p p l y h i s v i e w s t o h i s o w n w r i t i n g s. W h e n w e d o t h i s c e r ta i n

pr ima fac ie

p r o b l e m s

a r is e . I w i l l d i s c u s s t wo . T h e f i r s t, a n d s h o r t e r , i s a v e r y g e n e r a l o n e .

I f D e r r i d a i s r i g h t , t h e r e i s n o p r e s e n c e , n o u l t i m a t e g r o u n d o f m e a n i n g . I n p a r t i c -

u l a r, n o t e x t c a n s h o w i m m e d i a t e l y a n d t r a n s p a r e n t l y w h a t i t m e a n s . T h u s , a l l t e x ts

m u s t b e i n t e r p r e t e d - - o r r e a d , t o u s e a d i f f e re n t j a r g o n . M o r e o v e r , b e c a u s e o f i t s

i t e r a b i li t y , a t e x t c a n b e r e a d i n m a n y w a y s ; t h a t i s, it m a y b e i n t e r p r e t e d to m e a n

d i f fe r e n t t h i n g s i n d i f fe r e n t c o n t e x t s ( w h i c h i s n o t, o f c o u r s e , t o s a y t h a t i t c a n b e

i n t e r p re t e d t o m e a n a n y t h i n g ) . T h e r e i s n o q u e s t i o n o f a n y o n e i n t e rp r e t a t io n b e i n g

c o r r e c t ( t h o u g h t h i s i s n o t to s a y t h a t a l l i n t e r p r e t a ti o n s a re e q u a l l y g o o d ) . W h a t i s

m o r e , t h e i n t e r p r e t a t i o n o f a t e x t , b y i n c r e a s i n g t h e p l a y o f diffdrance a r o u n d i t , i s

a c t u a l ly l i a b l e t o

change

i t s m e a n i n g . F i n a l l y , a n d i n a n y c a s e, t h e i n t e rp r e t a t io n o f

a t e x t i s j u s t a n o t h e r t e x t , a n d s o n e e d s t o b e i n t e r p r e t e d , b u t i t s e l f h a s n o p r i v i l e g e d

i n t e r p r e t a t i o n .

T h u s , a t e x t e x p r e s s e s n o i n t r i n s i c m e a n i n g , b u t m a y b e t a k e n t o m e a n i n d e f i n i t e -

l y m a n y t h in g s . N o w a p p l y t hi s o b s e r v a t io n to D e r r i d a s o w n t e x t . W e t a k e D e r ri d a

t o b e a d v o c a t i n g a c e r ta i n v i e w , n a m e l y , a r g u in g a g a i n s t t h e e x i s te n c e o f p r e se n c e ,

t h e d e t e r m i n a c y o f s e n se . Y e t , i f h e i s r i g h t h e i s n o t a d v o c a t i n g a n y t h i n g w i t h s t a -

b l e a n d d e t e r m i n a t e s e n s e a t a l l. W h a t , t h e n , a r e w e s u p p o s e d t o m a k e o f w h a t h e

s a y s i f th e r e i s n o t h i n g

as such

t h a t h e s a y s ? O r , to p u t i t t h e o t h e r w a y , g i v e n t h a t

h e d o e s e x p r e s s c e r t a i n d e t e r m i n a t e v i e w s ( t h o s e t h a t l h a v e s u m m a r i s e d ) , h e i s

e x p r e s s i n g s o m e t h i n g t h a t, i f h e i s r i g h t , c a n n o t b e e x p r e s s e d . T h i s p r o b l e m h a s

b e e n n o t e d b y a n u m b e r o f w r i t e r s . W o o d [ 1 3 , p . 2 2 5 ] , fo r e x a m p l e , p i t h i l y p u t s it

t hu s: D e r r i d a h a s t h e p r o b l e m o f s a y i n g w h a t h e m e a n s w i t h o u t m e a n i n g w h a t h e

s a y s .

T h e p r o b l e m i s s im i l a r to t h a t i n w h i c h C r a t y l u s f o u n d h i m s e l f i n P l a t o s d i a -

l o g u e o f th e s a m e n a m e . C r a t y l u s w a s a n e x t r e m e H e r a c l i te a n w h o b e l i e v e d t h at

e v e r y t h i n g w a s i n a s ta t e o f c o n s t a n t f l u x ; a n d t h i s e v e r y t h i n g in c l u d e d m e a n i n g s .

N o w i f C r a t y lu s w e r e r i g h t, t h is f lu x o f m e a n i n g w o u l d d e p r i v e h is o w n a s se r ti o n s

o f a n y d e t e r m i n a t e s e n s e . I n p a r ti c u l a r , t h e y c o u l d n o t m e a n w h a t h e d e s i r e d t h e m

to . T r a d i t i o n a l l y , C r a t y l u s t o o k th e p o i n t , an d i n t h e e n d w o u l d s a y n o t h in g b u t

w o u l d m e r e l y w a g h i s fi n g e r.

T h e s i t u a t io n f o r D e r r i d a i s n o t e x a c t l y th e s a m e a s t h at f o r C r a t y l u s , h o w e v e r .

I n p a r t i c u l a r , t h o u g h D e r r i d a s u t t e r a n c e s m i g h t m e a n n o t h i n g i n a n y a b s o l u t e s e n s e,

y e t th e i d e a o f w h a t t h e y a r e

interpreted

t o m e a n m a k e s p e rf e c t ly g o o d s e n s e . A n d

t h is a l l o w s t i le f o l l o w i n g r e p l y : D e r r i d a s te x t s h a v e b e e n i n t e r p r e t e d ( b y h i m s e l f

a n d o t h e r s ) a s a n a t t a c k o n t h e n o t i o n o f p r e s e n c e ( o r a s s u b v e r t i n g t h e n o t i o n , t o u s e

a n o t h e r j a r g o n ) . I f t h i s i s s o , t h e y h a v e s e r v e d t h e i r f u n c t i o n . I f t h e t e x t s a r e in t e r -

p r e te d a s h a v i n g s o m e o t h e r m e a n i n g b y s o m e l a t t e r -d a y S h e l l e y a n t ra v e l le r , w h o

c a r e s ?

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108 Derrida A nd Sel f -Reference

V . D i f f ~ r a n c e

T h e s eC o n d p r o b l e m o f s e l f - r e f e re n c e c o n c e r n s t h e s p e c i f i c n o t i o n o f

d i f f ~ r a n c e

i t se l f . M a n y c o m m e n t a t o r s h a v e o b s e r v e d t h a t t h i s i s a p r o b l e m a t i c n o t i o n . T h e

p r o b l e m I h av e i n m i n d h i n g e s o n t h e f o l l o w i n g f a c t. D i f f ~ r a n c e , a c c o r d i n g t o

D e r r i d a , i s t h e - s tr u c t u r e t h a t g i v e s r i s e t o m e a n i n g ; i t is t h e p r e c o n d i t i o n o f a n y

m e a n i n g a t a l l. I t i t s e l f i s t h e r e f o r e b e y o n d e x p r e s s i o n : i t c a n n o t b e d e s c r i b e d i n

a n y w a y . A s D e r r i d a h i m s e l f p u t s it [ 5, p . 2 6 ] :

. . d i f f ~ r a n c e h a s n o n a m e i n o u r l a n g u a g e. B u t w e a l r e a d y k n o w t h at i f i t

i s u n n a m e a b l e , i t is n o t p r o v i s i o n a l l y s o , n o t b e c a u s e o u r l a n g u a g e h a s n o t

y e t f o u n d o r r e c e i v e d t h i s

n a m e ,

o r b e c a u s e w e w o u l d h a v e t o s e e k i t i n

a n o t h e r l a n g u a g e , o u t s i d e t h e f in i t e s y s t e m o f o u r o w n . I t i s r a t h e r b e c a u s e

t h e r e i s n o n a m e f o r i t a t a ll , n o t e v e n t h e n a m e o f e s s e n c e o r o f B e i n g , n o t

e v e n t h a t o f d i f f d r a n c e , w h i c h i s n o t a n a m e , w h i c h i s n o t a p u r e n o m i n a l

u n i t y , a n d u n c e a s i n g l y d i s l o c a t e s it s e l f i n a c h a i n o f d i f f e r i n g a n d d e f e r r i n g

s u b s t i t u t i o n s .

L e t u s c a l l t h is v i e w t h e i n e x p r e s s i b i l i t y o f d i f f ~ r a n c e . I t is n o t d i f f i c u l t t o s e e t h e

p r o b l e m t o w h i c h i t g i v e s ri s e . W e w i l l c o m e t o t h i s i n a m o m e n t . B u t i n v i r t u e o f

t h e f a c t t h a t i t i s p r o b l e m a t i c , i t i s w o r t h p a u s i n g t o s e e t h a t t h i s c l a i m i s n o m e r e

m i s t a k e o r m e n t a l a b e r r a t i o n o n D e r r i d a s p a r t; i t i s, in f a c t , f o r c e d o n h i m b y t h e

i n t e r n a l l o g i c o f h is p o s i t i o n . O n e c a n s e e t h i s b y p u t t i n g t o g e t h e r t w o o b s e r v a t i o n s .

F o r t h e f i r st , n o t e t h a t d e c o n s t r u c t i o n i s a n o p e r a t i o n t h a t i s a p p l i e d t o a t e x t , o r,

m o r e g e n e r a l l y , c o l l e c t i o n o f l i n g u i s t i c e n t i t ie s ( s e n t e n c e s , p i c t u r e s , e t c .) s t r u c t u r e d

b y s o m e b i n a r y o p p o s i t io n . I n th e p h a s e o f d i s p l a c e m e n t it p r o d u c e s a n o ti o n t ha t is

n o t e x p r e s s i b l e i n t e rm s o f t h a t o p p o s i t i o n , a n d s o i n t h e t e x t t h at t h i s o p p o s i t i o n

s t ru c t u r e s. A s D e r r i d a h i m s e l f p u t s it [ 4, p . 4 2 ] :

T h a t b e i n g s a i d - - a n d o n t h e o t h e r h a n d - - t o r e m a i n i n t h i s p h a s e [ o f

d e c o n s t r u c t i o n , v i z . , r e v e r s a l ] i s s ti l l t o o p e r a t e o n t h e t e r r a i n o f a n d f r o m

w i t h i n t h e d e c o n s t r u c t e d s y s t e m . B y m e a n s o f t h i s d o u b l e , an d p r e c i s e l y

s t r a t if i e d , d i s l o d g e d a n d d i s l o d g i n g , w r i t i n g , w e m u s t a l s o m a r k t h e i n t e r v a l

b e t w e e n i n v e r s io n , w h i c h b r i n g s l o w w h a t w a s h i g h , a n d t h e i r ru p t iv e e m e r -

g e n c e o f a n e w c o n c e p t , a c o n c e p t t h a t c a n n o l o n g e r b e, a n d n e v e r c o u ld

b e , i n c l u d e d i n t h e p r e v i o u s r e g i m e .

F o r t h e s e c o n d o b s e r v a t i o n , n o t e t h a t t h e t o t a l i t y o f a l l l in g u i s t i c e n ti t ie s , t h a t i s,

t e x t u a l i t y i t se l f , i s s t r u c t u r e d b y a b i n a r y o p p o s i t i o n . W h a t a l l s u c h e n t i t i e s h a v e i n

c o m m o n i s t h e i r p r e s u p p o s i t i o n o f ( t h e ) m e t a p h y s i c s ( o f p r e s e n c e ) ; c r u c i a l l y , t h e

s i g n i t s e lf , o f w h i c h a l l l i n g u i s t i c e n ti t i e s a r e c o m p o s e d , i s t h e m e t a p h y s i c a l n o t i o n

p a r e x c e l l e n c e . A s D e r r i d a p u t s i t [3 , p p . 2 8 0 - 2 8 1 ] :

T h e r e i s no s e n s e in d o i n g w i t h o u t t h e c o n c e p t o f m e t a p h y s i c s i n o r d e r t o

s h a k e m e t a p h y s i c s . W e h a v e n o l a n g u a g e - - n o s y n ta x a n d n o l ex i c o n - -

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109

w h i c h i s f o r e i g n t o t h is h i s t o r y [ o f m e t a p h y s i c s ] ; w e c a n p r o n o u n c e n o t a

s i n g l e d e s t r u c t iv e p r o p o s i t i o n w h i c h h a s n o t a l r e a d y h a d t o s li p in t o t h e

f o r m , t h e l o g i c , a n d t h e i m p l i c i t p o s t u l a t i o n s o f p r e c i s e l y w h a t i t s e e k s t o

c o n te s t. T o t a k e o n e e x a m p l e fr o m m a n y : t h e m e t a p h y s i c s o f p r e s e n c e i s

s h a k e n w i t h t h e n o t i o n o f

s i g n .

B u t . . . a s s o o n a s o n e se e k s t o d e m o n s t r a t e

i n t h is w a y t h a t th e r e i s n o t r a n s c e n d e n t a l o r p r i v i l e g e d s i g n i f ie d a n d t h a t

t h e d o m a i n o r p l a y o f s i g n i f i c a t io n h e n c e f o r t h h a s n o l i m i t , o n e m u s t r e j e c t

e v e n th e co n c e p t an d w o r d s i g n i t s e l f - - w h i c h i s p r e ci s el y w h a t c a nn o t b e

d o n e . F o r t h e s i g n i f i c a t io n s i g n h a s a l w a y s b e e n u n d e r st o o d an d d et e r-

m i n e d , i n i t s m e a n i n g , a s a s i g n - o f , a s i g n i f i e r r e f e r r i n g t o a s ig n i f i e d , a s i g -

n i f i e r d i f f e r e n t f ro m i t s s i g n i f i e d .

T h e v e r y n o t i o n o f p r e s e n c e , t h e c o r e o f m e t a p h y s i c s , i s t h e r e f o r e w r i t t e n i n t o a n y

l i n g u i s t i c e n t i ty , a n d h e n c e i t is t h e p a i r p r e s e n c e / a b s e n c e t h a t s t r u c tu r e s t e x t u a l i t y

itself

S i n c e t h i s i s s o w e c a n a p p l y th e d e c o n s t r u c t i v e o p e r a t i o n t o it . W h a t , t h e n , d o

w e g e t ? W h a t n o t i o n i s o b t a i n e d w h e n t h e p a ir p r e s e n c e /a b s e n c e i s d e c o n s t ru c t e d ?

T h e a n s w e r i s , o f c o u r s e ,

d i f f d r a n c e . D i f f d r a n c e

i s t h e n o t i o n t h a t a r i s e s o u t o f t h e

d i s p l a c e m e n t o f th e p a i r p r e s e n c e / a b s e n c e , a n d s o t r a n s c e n d s t h em . T h i s i s b e c a u s e

i t i s p r e c i s e l y

d i f f d r a n c e

tha t [ 2 , p .143] :

. . m a k e s t h e o p p o s i t io n o f p r e s e n c e a n d a b s e n c e p o ss i b le . W i t h o u t th e p o s -

s i b i l i ty o f

d i f f d r a n c e

t h e d e s i r e o f p r e s e n c e a s s u c h w o u l d n o t f i n d i ts b r e a t h -

i n g s p a c e . T h i s m e a n s b y t h e s a m e t o k e n t h a t t h i s d e s i r e c a r r i e s i n i t s e lf t h e

d e s t i n y o f n o n - s a t i s f a c t io n .

D i f f d r a n c e

p r o d u c e s w h a t i t f o rb i d s , m a k e s p o s -

s i b l e t h e v e r y t h i n g i t m a k e s i m p o s s i b l e .

Thus , [ 4 , p .27] :

. . d i f f d r a n c e

t h e n , i s a s t ru c t u r e a n d a m o v e m e n t n o l o n g e r c o n c e i v a b l e o n

t h e b a s i s o f th e o p p o s i t i o n p r e s e n c e / a b s e n c e .

T o s u m m a r i s e t h e t w o o b s e r v a t i o n s : t h e f i rs t i s t h a t i f a t e x t i s d e c o n s t r u c te d w e

a r ri v e a t a n o t i o n , fa c t s a b o u t w h i c h , c a n n o t b e e x p r e s s e d i n th e t e x t i n q u e s ti o n ; t h e

s e c o n d i s t h a t t h e n o t i o n o f

d i f f d r a n c e

i s o b t a i n e d b y d e c o n s t r u c t i n g t h e t o t a l i t y o f

a l l

l i n g u i s t i c e n t it ie s I t fo l l o w s f r o m t h e s e t h a t f a c t s a b o u t

d i f f d r a n c e

c a n n o t b e

e x p r e s s e d b y l i n g u i s t i c u t t e r a n c e s a t a ll . H e n c e , w e s e e t h a t th e i n e x p r e s s i b i l i t y o f

d i f f d r a n c e

i s n o m e r e q u i r k o f D e r r i d a , b u t i s i n h e r e n t i n t h e l o g i c o f h i s p o si t io n

V I . D e r r i d a a n d W i t tg e n s t e i n

T h i s, t h o ug h , p o s e s a n o b v i o u s p r o b l e m w h e n w e a p p l y it t o D e r r i d a s o w n w o r k s .

T h e s e a r e r e p l e t e w i t h d i s c u s s i o n s o f

d i f f ~ r a n c e

a n d it s d o i n g s . H o w , th e n , c a n

D e r r i d a s a y t h a t

d i f f d r a n c e

i s i n e x p r e s s i b l e ? E v e n t o s a y t h is y o u h a v e t o r e f e r t o it

t o sa y w h a t i t is t h a t i s i n e x p r e s s i b l e , a n d s o e x p r e s s i t.

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110

Derrida An d Self-Reference

W h a t d o e s D e r r id a m a k e o f th e s i tu a t io n ? H e n e v e r c o m m e n t s o n i t e x p l i c i t ly a s

f a r a s I a m a w a r e , b u t t h e r e i s a re m a r k a t t h e e n d o f t h e i n t e r v i e w w i t h R o n s e [ 4,

p . 1 4 ] w h i c h w o u l d a p p e a r to a p p l y t o it . I t i s a s fo l l o w s :

I t r y t o w r i t e ( i n ) t h e s p a c e i n w h i c h i s p o s e d t h e q u e s t i o n o f s p e e c h a n d

m e a n i n g . I t r y t o w r i t e th e q u e s t io n : ( w h a t i s ) m e a n i n g t o sa y ? T h e r e f o r e it

i s n e c e s s a r y i n s u c h a s p a c e , a n d g u i d e d b y s u c h a q u e s t i o n , t h a t w r i t i n g li t -

e r a l ly m e a n n o t h i n g

[ l ~cr i ture ~ la le t t re ne-veui l le-r ien-dire] .

N o t t h a t i t i s

a b s u r d i n t h e w a y t h a t a b s u r d it y h a s a l w a y s b e e n i n s o l i d a r i t y w i t h m e t a -

p h y s i c a l m e a n i n g . I t s i m p l y t e m p t s i t se l f, t e n d e r s i ts e lf , a t t e m p t s t o k e e p

i t s e l f a t t h e p o i n t o f t h e e x h a u s t i o n o f m e a n i n g .

W h a t D e r r i d a i s s a y i n g , f o r a l l h i s h e d g i n g , i s t h a t h i s r e m a r k s a b o u t m e a n i n g ,

a n d i n p a r t i c u l a r , p r e s u m a b l y , a b o u t

di f fdrance ,

a re m e a n i n g l e s s . T h i s m o v e m a y b e

t h o u g h t a b s u r d o r f o o l i s h ; it i s a t l e a s t h e r o i c . B u t b e f o r e o n e j u d g e s i t , o n e s h o u l d

r e c a l l t h e f o l l o w i n g , I s t a r te d o f f m a k i n g a c o m p a r i s o n b e t w e e n D e r r i d a a n d t h e

W i t tg e n s t e i n o f t h e

T r ac t a t u s . A s

i s w e l l k n o w n , W i t t g e n s t e i n , i n h is d i s c u s s i o n o f

m e a n i n g , e n d e d i n e x a c t l y t h e s a m e p r e d i c a m e n t a s D e r ri d a : h is o w n i d e a s t u rn e d

o u t t o b e i n e x p r e s s i b l e b y h i s o w n l i g h ts . W h a t i s m o r e , h i s r e a c t io n t o it w a s i d e n -

t i c a l t o th a t o f D e r r i d a : th e h e r o i c s t a n c e . I n th e f a m o u s p e n u l t i m a t e p r o p o s i t i o n o f

t h e

T r ac t a t u s

W i t t g e n s te i n a d m i t s t h at h i s o w n w o r d s a r e m e a n i n g le s s .

V I I . T h e P a r a d o x e s o f S e l f - R e f e re n c e

W h a t i s o n e t o m a k e o f th e s i tu a t i o n ? F i r s t , t h e p a r a l l e l b e t w e e n W i t t g e n s t e i n a n d

D e r r i d a h e r e i s s tr i k i n g . I t c l e a r l y d e s e r v e s g r e a t e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n . B u t t h i s l i e s o u t -

s i d e t h e s c o p e o f t h is p ap e r . S e c o n d : w e m u s t c o n s i d e r t h e o u t c o m e f o r D e r r i d a s

v i e w s . S o m e m a y t a k e th e a f f a i r to b e a s i m p l e r e f u t a t i o n o f h i s v i e w s .

I n t e re s t in g l y e n o u g h , W i t t g e n s t e i n s s i m i l a r p r e d i c a m e n t h a s r a r e ly b e e n i n t e rp r e te d

i n th i s w a y . A n o t h e r p o s s i b i l i t y i s t h a t w e t r y t o re a d p r o f o u n d s i g n i f i c a n c e i n to th e

s i t u a ti o n ; j u s t a s s o m e h a v e t r i e d t o r e a d p r o f o u n d o r e v e n m y s t i c a l s i g n i f i c a n c e in t o

t h e p e n u l t i m a t e p r o p o s i t i o n o f t h e

T r a c t a t u s .

I c a n n o t a g r e e w i t h t h i s l i n e o f

t h o u g h t. T o a d m i t t h a t o n e s o w n v i e w i s n o n s e n s e i s a s d a m n i n g a s e l f- i n d i c tm e n t

a s o n e c a n f i n d - - p a r t i c u l a rl y w h e n i t i s c l e a r t h a t th e v i e w s , h o w e v e r w r o n g t h e y

m a y b e , a r e i n t e l l i g i b l e , a n d s o n o t n o n s e n s e .

T h e r e i s , h o w e v e r , a t h i rd p o s s i b i l i t y . T h e r e i s a n o t h e r a r e a o f p h i l o s o p h y w h e r e

c e r t a i n th i n g s a p p e a r t o t u rn o u t t o b e b o t h e x p r e s s i b l e a n d i n e x p r e s s i b l e : th e p a r a -

d o x e s o f se l f- r ef e re n c e . F o r e x a m p l e , in B e r r y s P a r a d o x a c e r ta i n n u m b e r t u r n s o u t

t o b e b o t h d e f i n a b l e a n d i n d e f i n a b l e , a n d s i m i l a r l y w i t h t h e o t h e r d e f i n a b i l i t y p a r a -

d o x e s . T h i s s u g g e s t s th a t D e r r i d a s c o n t r ad i c t io n m a y b e o f a p ie c e w i t h t h e p a ra -

d o x e s o f s e l f- r e f e re n c e . I n f ac t , t h e s i m i l a r i t y b e t w e e n t h e t w o s i t u a t io n s i s c l o s e r

t h a n a m e r e s u r f a c e a n a l o g y . I n s e c t io n V w e s a w t h a t th e c o n t r a d i c t i o n i s g e n e r a t e d

b y t h e f a c t t h a t th e r e i s s o m e o p e r a t i o n ( d e c o n s t r u c t i o n ) t h a t, w h e n a p p l i e d to a

t o t a l i t y o f s o m e k i n d , p r o d u c e s a n o v e l e n t i t y o f t h a t k i n d ; w h e n a p p l i e d to t h e t o t a l -

i t y o f a ll e n ti t i e s o f t h a t k i n d i t m u s t t h e r e f o r e p r o d u c e s o m e t h i n g t h a t i s b o t h i n s i d e

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Graham Priest 111

a n d o u t s i d e t h a t t o t a l it y . T h o u g h I s h a l l n o t d e m o n s t r a t e t h i s h e r e , th i s i s p r e c i s e l y

t h e s t r u c tu r e t h a t l i e s b e h i n d a l l t h e l o g i c a l p a r a d o x e s . T o t h o s e f a m i l i a r w i t h

R u s s e l l s V i c i o u s C i r c l e P r i n c i p l e , t h e g e n e r a l s i m i l a r i t i e s w i l l b e o b v i o u s e n o u g h . 7

T h i s t h i r d p o s s i b i l i ty d o e s n o t , o n i t s o w n , t e l l u s w h a t t o c o n c l u d e a b o u t t h e s i t u -

a ti o n . R a t h e r , i t o p e n s u p a n u m b e r o f o p ti o n s : a l l t h o s e th a t h a v e b e e n s u g g e s t e d

f o r h a n d l i n g t h e p a r a d o x e s o f s e l f -r e f e r e n c e : m e t a l i n g u i s t i c a s c e n t , tr u th v a l u e g a p s ,

d i a l e th e i s m , e t c . W h i c h , i f a n y , o f th e s e m i g h t b e a p p r o p r i a t e i n t h is c o n t e x t i s a n

i s su e t h a t t r a n s c e n d s t h e b o u n d s o f a n y t h i n g a t t e m p t e d i n th i s e s sa y , s

University o f Queensland R e c e i v e d S e p t e m b e r 1 9 9 2

R e v i s e d J u n e 1 9 9 3

REFERENCES

1. J. Culler, Jac qu es D erd da in J. Sturrock (ed.), Structuralism and Since. from Ldvi-Strauss to

Derrida (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1979) pp.154-179.

2. J. Derrida, Of Grammatology, trans . G.C. Spivak (Baltimore: John Hopkins University Press,

1974).

3. J. Derrida, Structure, Sign and Play in the Discourse of the Hum an S cien ces in Writing and

Difference(London: Routledge, 1978) eh. 10.

4. J. Derrida, Positions, trans. A. Bass (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1981).

5. J. Derrida, 'Diff&ance' in Margins of Philosophy (London: Harvester, 1982) ch. 1.

6. F.B. Fitch, Se lf-R efer enc e in Philosophy , Mind 55 (1964) pp.64-73; a revised version appears

as Appendix C of Symbolic Logic (New York: Ronald Press Company, 1952).

7. K. Hart, The Trespass of the Sign (Camb ridge: Cam bridge University Press, 1989).

8. B. Johnson, translator s preface to J. Derri da s Dissemination (Chicago: University of Chicago

Press, 1981).

9. C. No rris, Derrida (London: Fontana Press, 1987).

10. J. Passm ore,

PhilosophicaIReasoning

London: Duckworth, 1961).

11. G. Priest, Th e Limits of Thought - - and Beyo nd ,

Mind

100 (1991) pp.361-370.

12. G. Priest, T h e Structure of Paradoxes of Se lf-Re feren ce , Mind (forthcoming); abstracted

under the title A ll the paradoxes o f self-reference hav e a comm on u nderlying structure generat-

ing the contradiction , The Journal of Symbolic Logic57 (1992) p.1501.

13. D . Wo od , De r r ida and t he Pa radoxes o f Re f l ec t i on , Journal of the British Society for

Phenomenology11 (1980) pp.225-238.

Som e details can be found in [11 ]. For a full discussion see [12].

Th i s pape r was r ead a t t he Aus t r a l a s i an Assoc i a t i on o f Ph i lo sophy Annua l Confe r ence ,

M elbourne, 1991. I had not intended to publish it , but a number o f people said that they found

the exegesis o f Derrida in the paper helpful, so I decided that there may be so m e point. I have

made som e changes as a result of helpful comments b y anonymous referees; I am sure, ho we v-

er, that these are unlikely to hav e produced consensus.

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Priest, Graham - Derrida and Self-reference. AJP, 1994