We can believe, without the shadow of a doubt, that the I in question formed itself, if it manages to do at least that , and if the disorder of identity of identity of which we were speaking a while ago does not, precisely, affect the very construction of the I, the formation of the speaking-I [dire-je], the me-I [moi-je], or the appearance, as such, of a pre-egological ipseity. (29)
That is all it knows how to do, to keep people waiting, and that is all I know about it. Even today and, without the shadow of a doubt, for good. (71)
why always the shadow of the doubt?
Derrida seems to be afraid, to tremble in this phrase -- maybe it's the accent he doesn't want us to read?
it recalls the shadow of the valley of death
Generally, I have heard this phrase used to assert truth, but Derrida uses it in relation to belief. I do not know of a belief which has no shadow of doubt.
The very figure of belief implies non-belief, disbelief.
Since I always tell the truth, you can believe me. (50)
Thus Derrida is always lying just a little bit with us.
Somehow is lying seems so delicately honest that it make me catch my breath to think of it.
| And yet, maybe I'm just reading too much in to this | |
|
maybe it's just a bad idiomatic translation of Derrida's French |
The improvisation of some inaugurality is, without the shadow of a doubt, the impossible itself . . . At the same time, this untranslatable translation, this idiom makes things happen [fait arriver], this signature brought forth [fait arrivée], produces events in the given language, the given language to which things must still be given, sometimes unverifiable events; illegible events. Events that are always promised rather than given. Messianic events. Bust the promise is not nothing; it is not a non-event. (66)