Published: 2018-06-30

Metaphor in Theology. Some Remarks on the Margin of the Treatise of J. Derrida "White Mythology: Metaphor in the Text of Philosophy"

Jan Słomka

Abstract

Derrida, in his essay, proves that philosophy, although it seeks to clarify and systematize thought, and so in philosophical texts the most precise abstract concepts are preferred, is not able, because of fundamental reasons, to escape completely from a metaphor. In his proof, Derrida analyses Aristotle's definition of metaphor and the resulting linguistic and intellectual consequences. He shows that metaphor cannot be treated as secondary to the concept. These considerations may be useful to a theologian. The attempts to systematize metaphors are useful for better understanding of the biblical metaphors and more careful selection of metaphors in the course of writing theological texts. Particularly interesting are the critical remarks about the mathematical concepts and technical works as a starting point for creating metaphors. Derrida's analysis showing a metaphor as "the mere emergence of language" is an important inspiration for reflection on the mutual relationship of an abstract concepts and metaphors in the theological text.

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Słomka, J. (2018). Metaphor in Theology. Some Remarks on the Margin of the Treatise of J. Derrida "White Mythology: Metaphor in the Text of Philosophy". Silesian Historical and Theological Studies, 51(1), 76–88. https://doi.org/10.31261/SSHT.2018.51.1.05

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SSHT

Vol. 51 No. 1 (2018)
Published: 2018-06-30


ISSN: 0137-3447
eISSN: 2956-6185

Publisher
Instytut Gość Media/Księgarnia św. Jacka

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