"This project is mad"

Descartes, Derrida, and the notion of philosophical crisis

Gary Steiner

pp. 179-198

in: Man and World 30 (2), 1997.

Abstract

In "Cogito and the History of Madness," Derrida maintains that crisis is endemic to philosophy rather than being, as Husserl forcefully argued, a temporary condition that can and must be overcome through the resources of reason. A reflection on the place of madness in Descartes's Meditations serves as the point of departure for demonstrating that Derrida has done an injustice to philosophy; and a comparison of Derrida's views with the thought of Husserl, Heidegger, and Nietzsche reveals that Derrida's position in "Cogito and the History of Madness" entails a sacrifice of the notion of responsibility that lies at the center of meaningful historical action.

Cited authors

Husserl Edmund

Heidegger Martin

Derrida Jacques

Descartes René