Jacques Derrida dies from cancer
Via Maverick Philosopher, I learned that Jacques Derrida passed away today. Gosh, I really really dislike his theories and as hard as it is to believe, his writing is even worse. Some of the most awful, crabbed things I ever read came from the mind of dear Jacques. His thinking is incoherent nonsense and yet he managed to puff out his chest in a way that makes pin-head art farts swoon.
I still shake my head at all the English profs I had who, when confronted by many, many students about what a waste of time Derrida was, just repeated as nauseeum, "Yes, well, we must address him and not just dismiss him and no one has done that..." It leaves a rank taste in my mouth still; it is one of the reasons I never pursued a Masters Degree. I became convinced that it would be a waste of time, money and effort. Nothing has happened in the last ten years to change my mind.
Deconstruction - Pffffttt!!!
Ecce Homo I haven't done a quote from Pope Ratzinger's Introduction to Chistianty in a while and even though I have finished the book there are still one or two passages I want to share, including - perhaps even especially - this one. When I first began to look over what Christianity teaches, to look at the gospel story and to try penetrate why it has been so compelling to so many for so long, this was one of the things that leapt out at me. I was happy to see our Pope confirm it. Expanding on the Apostles Creed where it says "... suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried," Ratzinger writes: The fact that when the perfectly just man appeared he was crucified, delivered up by justice to death, tells us pitilessly who man is: Thou art such, man, that thou canst not bear the just man - that he who simply loves becomes a fool, a scourged criminal, an outcast. Thou art such because, unjust thyself, thou dost always need the injustice of the n...
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