“Circumcision” and the Jewishness in Derrida: On the Ethical Dimension of Derridan Deconstruction

Abstract

Jacque Derrida enters into Jewish tradition by keeping away from it. He is drifting in and out of Jewish tradition by his paradoxical language. As the cut-in point, circumcision is employed by Derrida to ponder over his Jewishness and, meanwhile, demonstrates the ethical dimension in his deconstructive thinking. As the sign of deconstruction, circumcision reveals massive Messianic colors and implicates the hermeneutic attribute of texts and ethical orientation in Jewish tradition. If Levinas approaches Jewish tradition by ethics, ethics in Derrida’s deconstructionist perspective or deconstruction in the ethical version explores the possibility to encounter the Other in the process of reading, interpretation and thinking. Deconstruction, like circumcision, seems to bring about cutting, harm and disruption, but it guarantees the promise for the future, intending to shatter the petrified boundary in order to open up for the future.