Subscribe now

Letter: Letter

Published 28 September 2002

From Peter Reynolds

Deconstructionism provokes a series of questions in the mind of the observer so as ultimately to raise the question: what is the relevance of anything? The aim is to dissolve the preconceived sense of absolute meaning in the obvious answers to this series of questions, so that the observer starts to drown in uncertainty. If this methodology is applied to a technical document, it can only result in uncertainty – the true aim of deconstructionism.

If the procedure proposed by Jim Armstrong is to operate logically, then he must define the term “meaning”, so that he can stop the deconstruction process when meaning has been arrived at. The snag is that deconstructionism aims to show that this can never be done.

Ilford, Essex

Issue no. 2362 published 28 September 2002

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox. We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up
Piano Exit Overlay Banner Mobile Piano Exit Overlay Banner Desktop