September 28, 2018 ☼ linguistics

Différance and superposition

“Différance is the systematic play of differences, of the traces of differences, of the spacing by means of which elements are related to each other. This spacing is the simultaneously active and passive (the a of différance indicates this indecision as concerns activity and passivity, that which cannot be governed by or distributed between the terms of this opposition) production of the intervals without which the”full” terms would not signify, would not function. ” - Jacques Derrida

différance holds the same ground as the quantum superposition of Schrödinger’s cat. Absence of language is THE multiverse of languages.

A very accessible introduction to Derrida in this video: ; also an enjoyable “Derrida” chapter here: https://tinyurl.com/ybjpshhm