Abstract:
This study brings the thoughts of Derrida into conversation with François Laruelle’s nonphilosophy
or non-standard philosophy. Laruelle argued that Derrida is a philosopher of
difference, thereby grouping Derrida together with Heidegger and Deleuze as philosophers of
difference. The argument of this article is to explore Derrida’s work, bringing it into
conversation with Laruelle’s non-philosophy and non-standard philosophy. This article is
focussed specifically on Derrida’s democracy to come in line with Laruelle’s democracy of
thought. The context of this discussion is the end of philosophy or the closure of philosophy,
and the opening of this closure for a democracy is yet to come – or whether the ideas of the end
of philosophy or the closure of philosophy (metaphysics) are philosophical materials for
Laruelle’s science of philosophy or non-philosophy. Laruelle does not seek a democracy to
come, but understands these different thoughts as democracy of thought: all thoughts equal
and unifacially turned not towards a democracy to come, but a future.
Description:
This research is part of the
research project, ‘Towards a
practical postfoundational
theology as public theology
in response to the challenges
of lived religion in
contemporary Southern
Africa’, directed by Prof. Dr
Johann Meylahn, Department
Practical Theology, Faculty of
Theology and Religion,
University of Pretoria.
