Différance and the Logic of Pseudo-Closure: Toward a Generative Reading of Derrida's Philosophical Architecture

This paper presents a structural interpretation of Jacques Derrida's philosophy by examining the internal logic through which deconstruction sustains itself as a coherent yet non-totalizing mode of thought. While deconstruction is often described as a project aimed at dismantling binary oppositions, the paper argues that Derrida's philosophical practice remains structurally dependent on the very oppositional frameworks it interrogates. The analysis focuses on the concept of différance, proposing that it functions not merely as a principle of deferral but as a stabilizing mechanism that allows philosophical discourse to remain intelligible without achieving final closure. Through this mechanism, Derrida's work maintains internal coherence while systematically resisting definitive resolution. To clarify this dynamic, the paper introduces the notion of pseudo-closure as a descriptive model for understanding how deconstruction operates as a regulated process of non-resolution. Rather than constituting a contradiction or methodological flaw, this structure enables the continued productivity of Derrida's philosophy by preserving tension between coherence and openness. The paper thus offers a structural account of deconstruction that situates Derrida's work firmly within contemporary philosophy of language and continental philosophy.

Publication Details

Journal
Knowledge Commons (Lakehead University)
Published
2025-12-12
DOI
https://doi.org/10.17613/wmb37-54h30
Primary Topic
Philosophy, Ethics, and Existentialism
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Différance and the Logic of Pseudo-Closure: Toward a Generative Reading of Derrida's Philosophical Architecture

Knowledge Commons (Lakehead University)
Philosophy, Ethics, and Existentialism
article

Différance and the Logic of Pseudo-Closure: Toward a Generative Reading of Derrida's Philosophical Architecture

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Abstract

This paper presents a structural interpretation of Jacques Derrida's philosophy by examining the internal logic through which deconstruction sustains itself as a coherent yet non-totalizing mode of thought. While deconstruction is often described as a project aimed at dismantling binary oppositions, the paper argues that Derrida's philosophical practice remains structurally dependent on the very oppositional frameworks it interrogates. The analysis focuses on the concept of différance, proposing that it functions not merely as a principle of deferral but as a stabilizing mechanism that allows philosophical discourse to remain intelligible without achieving final closure. Through this mechanism, Derrida's work maintains internal coherence while systematically resisting definitive resolution. To clarify this dynamic, the paper introduces the notion of pseudo-closure as a descriptive model for understanding how deconstruction operates as a regulated process of non-resolution. Rather than constituting a contradiction or methodological flaw, this structure enables the continued productivity of Derrida's philosophy by preserving tension between coherence and openness. The paper thus offers a structural account of deconstruction that situates Derrida's work firmly within contemporary philosophy of language and continental philosophy.

Knowledge Commons (Lakehead University)
Openalex Percentile: Top 24%
Philosophy, Ethics, and Existentialism
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Différance and the Logic of Pseudo-Closure: Toward a Generative Reading of Derrida's Philosophical Architecture · Knowledge Commons (Lakehead University) (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS