best major

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Isn't searching for the limits of construction an analytic (in terms of "learning to think logically and to write well") activity?

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<p>Not at all. The best definition, in my opinion, of logic and analytic philosophy in general can be found here:</p>

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The scope of the term 'logic' has varied from writer to writer throught he centuries. But these varying scopes seem all to enclose a common part: the logic which is commonly described, vaguely, as the science of necessary inference.

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<p>Derrida's text is largely a critique of logic; logic is not the king of reasoning, nor does it hold a de facto grasp of rationality. Logic is a sytem of reasoning, among many others, that has its purpose. Its purpose is always analytic: to dissect arguments and test for validity. It is never synthetic. The problem with logic is that it, essentially, destroys much of language. One example is how, truth-functionally, the phrase "nspeds has a fetish for the 'post button', and cwhite does not" is identical to "nspeds has a fetish for the 'post button', but cwhite does not" (pq). Obviously, in ordinary language, 'and' and 'but are far from strictly similar.</p>

<p>Edit: Sorry, my source for the above is:</p>

<p>Quine, W.V.O. 'Elementary Logic' (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1980).</p>

<p>lol!</p>

<p>(Did you know you have to have at least 10 characters in a post?)</p>

<p>DMC - I'm having fun watching you guys spar. I'm just afraid we've substituted a genuine effort to help a poster with yet another testiment to undergrad glory.</p>

<p>In a classroom, this would be fascinating to listen to. Really, it would. ;)</p>

<p>Excellent post, nspeds.</p>

<p>cwhite, I am always happy to entertain :) and I am not sparring with nspeds at all. He obviously knows what he is talking about and that is refreshing.</p>

<p>Back to the topic at hand....</p>

<p>The other posters got it right. Any writing or critical thinking majors are fine.</p>

<p>Oh come ON. Lighten up guys - have a gin and tonic with me. I'm even humming Summertime here... ;)</p>

<p>I respect your opinion, no matter how imbued it is with the stench of generality and apparent singularity. I am not entirely certain what "authorities" you have corresponded with

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<p>1) Your first point of reference should be Derrida's own texts, where he lambasts the literary misappropriation of his work.
2) Your second point of reference should be none other than Stanley Cavell, professor Emeritus of Aesthetics at Harvard, who also complains of the lack of respect for 'deconstructionism' in literary criticism.</p>

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but I assure you that literary criticism most definitely facilities the ideas of construction in the sense that it expediates actualization through exploration.

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<p>Your assurance is misguided. This is not intended to offend; Derrida has himself expressed his disapproval of such appropriation.</p>

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I do not feel I am in the wrong by holding the belief that Jacques Derrida intended decontructionism to be the philosophical exploration of deeper meanings within a work in order to actualize more understanding.

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<p>If scholars, with what they think are 'right interpretations of deconstructionism' have been the source of Derrida's humor till his death, I am sure you are no closer to finding the point of it.</p>

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Yet you decry my entire reprisal with your version of Derrida's ideal? Let me rephrase that....I mean to say that your desire to point out the fallacies of my argument is inappropiate because you admit to not having a complete comprehension of his proposition as well.

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<p>Logical fallacy, so much for the analytic training, eh?</p>

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I never said it did. If my diction elucidated that, I apologize. I think you have just summed up why deconstructionism IS an excellent form critical thinking. It seeks not to tear down the walls of a proposition, but it does compel us to view it in a broader spectrum.

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<p>You just misappropriated it again. Have you even read 'De La Grammatologie'?</p>

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My point was that criticism is a beneficial component of law school preparation, and analyzing Derrida's ephemeral ideal is quite healthy.

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<p>1) It does not at all. His texts are not logical (they are not illogical). They do not emphasize the analytic skills required for law school in the least. I assure you that you will derive more use from reading the works of logical positivists than you will ever find in reading 'De La Grammatologie'. Ironic how a text in the French language somehow provides useful guidance for reading legal texts.
2) It is not healthy; I have been warned on numerous occasions of the dangers of misappropriating deconstructionism. These have not been from students, but from prominent professors who have personally met Derrida. </p>

<p>You are young, you are just heading into college, and you think you are right about the purpose of deconstructionism. Scholars upon scholars have been denounced by Derrida himself, and deconstructionism in literary criticism, according to him, has been a farcical notion which barely resembles the intended purpose. Do you mean to tell me that your intuitions of deconstruction are somehow stronger than what Derrida has explicitly claimed?</p>

<p>I think not.</p>

<p>I do not know what deconstructionism is, but I know what it is not; it is definitely not the fatuous display you just rendered.</p>

<p>Edit: Analytic philosophy, up until now, has, and will for the near future, control of legal academia. You are not going to get through law school by critiquing logic, you will graduate with a J.D. under the assumption that you have worked through it and use it as a valuable tool, with all the rigour therein. </p>

<p>I do not know whether that is a good or bad notion. Logic definitely has its uses - such as in law - but it can be potentially dangerous, especially to ordinary language.</p>

<p>"lol!</p>

<p>(Did you know you have to have at least 10 characters in a post?)"</p>

<p>I did.</p>

<p>hums 'summertime' along...:D</p>

<p>Everyone on Earth is well advised to get out into the sunshine now and then, to sip of bit of sin, mangle a bit of language, and trip over your own two feet. ;)</p>

<p>I apologize. </p>

<p>You know you are at CC when...</p>

<p>Edit: Seriously, though: law students using deconstructionism? That is frightening. I have seen Freddie Cooger movies that are akin to frollicking in the daisies in comparison to this notion.</p>

<p>Wow. That didn't take long.</p>

<p>Nsped's, so be it. If you can take a minute to revert back to the original question concerning literary criticism, you will see that this pretentious joust lacks the perspicacity in order to answer the question. I got carried away, but do not think that I see you as being oblivious here (even though your sentiments seem to suggest so of me) to Derrida's ideal. IMO your argument is quite specious and I mean that as a compliment. However, literary criticism in of itself does not detract one from analyzing critically. We are in dismemberment on this issue, but that is what I believe. Put Derrida and his texts aside for the moment.</p>

<p>Perhaps 'literary criticism' does not detract from analytic thinking, but deconstructionism does. I would not touch it with a ten-foot pole unless I were:
1) A graduate student in philosophy (mastering not only logic, but various strands of continental philosophy, which is a scarce combination in academia, as I only know two professors of the sort and they rarely mention 'deconstruction')
2) Fluency in French
3) Patience
4) Skepticism</p>

<p>Back to the topic...</p>

<p>(nspeds acts insouciant)</p>

<p>Question, nspeds, since you've devolved into direct insult - couldn't you have given the OP the decency of brevity and said "I'd say go with ___________ instead"?</p>

<p>It was not really an insult, it was more of a facetious remark in bad taste. A minor indulgence on my part. Think nothing of it.</p>

<p>More to the topic:</p>

<p>I am obviously partial to my own undergraduate focus, but I highly recommend 'analytic philosophy'. The clarity of thought and rigor afforded by not only symbolic, but the tools of assessment of logic are going to be precious tools for perusing those legal texts, in my opinion.</p>

<p>So far, and largely in consequence of it, my LSAT score has been good and my daily readings of legal philosophy, which holds enormous influence over law (ie. the legal positivism and natural law debate), have been particularly fruitful.</p>

<p>I love it:)</p>

<p>"Perhaps 'literary criticism' does not detract from analytic thinking, but deconstructionism does. I would not touch it with a ten-foot pole unless I were:
1) A graduate student in philosophy (mastering not only logic, but various strands of continental philosophy, which is a scarce combination in academia, as I only know two professors of the sort and they rarely mention 'deconstruction')
2) Fluency in French
3) Patience
4) Skepticism</p>

<p>Back to the topic...</p>

<p>(nspeds acts insouciant)"</p>

<p>Exactly. However, I was not the one who introduced deconstructionism into this thread in order to question how meritocrious literary criticism is. Perhaps they are two different entities entirely and incapable of being compared?</p>

<p>"Perhaps 'literary criticism' does not detract from analytic thinking"</p>

<p>And so...Nspeds relinquishes his sword and we finally come to an understanding. :) Hmmm...maybe not? I just always believed that lit crit and analyzation shared a certain mutualism on the path to law. Just my opinion.</p>

<p>Nspeds - I'm glad. :)</p>

<p>Honestly, I think that you're a truly brilliant guy who will do wonders in the line of work you've mentioned wanting to pursue (excuse my own wordiness - I'm two toddies in).</p>

<p>I recognize that your discussion was a legitimate one. Call it emotional leakage - I am easily chaffed by the academically inclined for personal reasons. And even you must admit that multisyllables just scream BS most of the time. ;)</p>

<p>Arguing that literary criticism, as a whole, does not contribute to one's analytic skills is patantly fallacious. I suppose literary criticism is an enormous field, encompassing numerous methods for evaluating texts and the some of which are inevitably analytic in nature. I would not dare illicitly conflate the field of lit-crit to deconstruction; I just do not think deconstruction has any use for a law student.</p>

<p>I did not really have a 'sword' out...</p>

<p>...more like a light-sabre.
(nspeds smacks imaginary blade to computer)</p>

<p>Edit: Thanks cwhite:)</p>

<p>I'm so lost - didn't I post earlier that lit crit wasn't nec. all deconstructionist or am I that tipsy?</p>

<p>You're welcome. ;)</p>

<p>Yes. Sorry. I realize that my initial post might have conveyed the impression that it was. In no way do I intend that. I assure you!</p>