Of the various theorists of hermeneutics, Paul Ricoeur always frustrated me most. I would assent to roughly four-fifths of a point he makes, and then the remaining fifth would seem entirely off the mark. And in such frustrating prose! Give me a bracing, dense passage of Derrida any day, rather than the deadpan exposition of Ricoeur.
Yet I doubt that anyone has done more productive work, across the whole span of hermeneutical thought, in the twentieth century. Ricoeur affected everything; if you disagree with him, you still interact with him (whereas ideology fences off, say, Derrida from his dissenters). His reflections on time, identity, narrative, parables, interpretation, culture, all make a difference to participants in the discussion across the board. Dissent need not mean disrespect; all grace and peace be with Paul Ricoeur, now and forever.
This is so funny. I love Ricoeur and have never understod the appeal of Derrida and yet our brains seem to operate in similar ways. I wonder why that is?
We bring balance to the Force. . . .
Now I love Derrida, and I’m basing a blogological analysis methodology on deconstruction, as best I understand it.
I don’t know why I can just read Derrida forever, comprehending 3 sentences every other page, yet it soaks in and my mind expands and I gain more insight as I read him.
Ricouer? need to look into him. Derrida, Blanchot, Lacan, and Levinas have been my favorite intellectual stimulation.
Theology? I don’t know if they’re considered theologians, but I favor Charles Finney, John Wesley, Luther, Barth, and Oswald Chambers.
We need a high tech, special effects Pilgrims Progress film, BTW.
I lament the passing of Ricoeur as well, and I feel like I should also point out that Clancy Ratliff has never seen any of the Star Wars films.
Sure we bring balance to the force — but which of us gets the force lightning and which the lightsaber?
Well, you’re already known throughout the galaxy for your 1337 light-saber skillz, so if we haft divvy them up, I suppose I get the lightning. Since I’m not on the dark side, though, do I get a different color of lightning? (Or does the answer depend on my having seen Revenge of the Sith, which I haven’t yet?)