This study postulates the existence of a notion of transcendence in immanence in
the thought of Jacques Derrida. The deconstruction of, amongst others, Husserlian
phenomenology and Saussurean structuralism, affords Derrida the opportunity of
presenting a thought of contamination, haunting and impurity, which is a thought of
transcendence in immanence. The hypothesis of a notion of transcendence in
immanence in Derrida’s thought is refined by specifying it as temporal
transcendence in immanence. Accordingly, the intimation of transcendence in
immanence does not amount to the ontological acceptance of a separate
transcendent realm. On the contrary, what appears is a monism: the infinite finitude
of temporality.
In conversation with the notion of temporal transcendence in immanence intimated in
Derrida’s thought, this study proposes a notion of theological transcendence in
immanence. Theological transcendence in immanence is presented as an inflected
interpretive performance of salient themes from the tradition of Christian theology
prior to the advent of modernity. From this perspective, all being is referred to God
and finite creation is deemed to be a contingent, non-necessary participation, at an
unquantifiable analogical remove, in the life and being of God. The notions of space,
time and meaning that emerge from such a premise are subsequently explored, and
brought into conversation with the corresponding notions in Derrida’s work.
The study concludes by asking whether the conversation between the notions of
temporal and theological transcendence in immanence can in any way be furthered,
or whether the two positions should rather be regarded as irreconcilable, that is, as
lying separatively transcendent to each other. In response, it is suggested that the
notion of transcendence in immanence implies the attempt to relate juxtaposed
positions after the fashion of transcendence in immanence. The possibility of
temporal transcendence in immanence inhabiting theological transcendence in
immanence after the fashion of transcendence in immanence is firstly considered
and rejected. Thereupon, the reverse option, namely that of theological
transcendence in immanence making use of temporal transcendence in immanence,
iii
while at the same time transcending it, is considered and judged to be a suitable
provisional outcome of the conversation with Derrida. / Religious Studies and Arabic / D. Litt. et Phil. (Religious Studies)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/5449 |
| Date | 09 1900 |
| Creators | Kruger, Jacob Petrus |
| Contributors | Goosen, D. P. Daniel Petrus, 1953- |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 1 online resource (vii, 242), application/pdf |
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