Derrida, Heidegger, escaping metaphysics

“… To the extent that such a logocentrism is not totally absent from Heidegger’s thought, perhaps it still holds that thought within the epoch of onto-theology, within the philosophy of presence, that is to say within philosophy itself. This would perhaps mean that one does not leave the epoch whose closure one can outline. The movements of belonging or not belonging to the epoch are too subtle, the illusions in that regard are too easy, for us to make a definite judgment.”

Derrida, Of Grammatology, p.12 [my emphasis]

Derrida is always cautious in advancing an argument. He is never precipitous in declaring what his texts achieve. His is prudent, and in a strange kind of way, humble. Of course, this is not always how he is presented…

Filed under: Derrida, Heidegger, humility

self reflection among other things

You know, sometimes you get annoyed at yourself for doing the very things you hate. It feels like being double minded, and you only wish that others could see inside your head as to the fact that someone in there is trying hard to get the message across “that’s not the real me… ” and yet you keep doing it anyway of course. Humility is a much undervalued thing. If only gaining it wasn’t always so humiliating.

In other news, perhaps of more interest to the rest of the world, U2 are coming to Australia (finally!), and, as one friend, and many others have said, ‘you can’t not go’.

Lots of things will be said, and I am sure there will be many people who will try and pretend a cool disinterest and try to be the ‘only one who doesn’t think U2 is the biggest band in the world’, and question just who do they think they are anyway.

In contrast to this portrayal of the band, I had been reading a book of interviews with Bono. He comes across as a really down to earth, humble guy, who cares about his kids, cares about relieving the poor, and listens to people.

In stark contrast to me, that is. Although, of course, I can’t say I ‘know’ him – who can? We make such judgements about people based on so little – a comment in the paper, an interview, a chapter in a book. Perhaps this is one of the problems of a media soaked world – real relationships are suplemented – indeed replaced – by impressions, snapshots, and grabs. There is no time for the real and the honest and the true in the world of the now.

Filed under: U2, humility, media