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Derrida, Abraham and Responsible Subjectivity

Fridlund, Patrik LU orcid (2016) In Revue Philosophique de la France et de l'Étranger 141(1). p.59-78
Abstract
Secrecy is a theme in Genesis 22, in Derrida's reading of the story, in which God commands Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. It is about keeping a secret, not secret as in hiding, but rather the secret of an exclusive relationship. This is embarrassing as it is excluding. Accepting this unique relationship by keeping the secret, Abraham demonstrates his willingness to enter into a relationship based on unconditional love. An essential part of this unconditionality and uniqueness is Abraham not referring to anybody or anything outside. He thus takes the responsibility entirely. This may be seen as being centred upon the individual. It may also be seen as a question of taking responsibility, deciding, and taking a stand. Interestingly enough,... (More)
Secrecy is a theme in Genesis 22, in Derrida's reading of the story, in which God commands Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. It is about keeping a secret, not secret as in hiding, but rather the secret of an exclusive relationship. This is embarrassing as it is excluding. Accepting this unique relationship by keeping the secret, Abraham demonstrates his willingness to enter into a relationship based on unconditional love. An essential part of this unconditionality and uniqueness is Abraham not referring to anybody or anything outside. He thus takes the responsibility entirely. This may be seen as being centred upon the individual. It may also be seen as a question of taking responsibility, deciding, and taking a stand. Interestingly enough, Abraham must be capable of failing, or in other words he must be capable of deciding not to obey the command. The call is for a unique relationship, but there must be a possibility of not responding to the call. Or, must there? (Less)
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author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Derrida, Abraham, Genesis 22, Responsibility, Subjectivity
in
Revue Philosophique de la France et de l'Étranger
volume
141
issue
1
pages
59 - 78
publisher
Presses Universitaires de France
external identifiers
  • scopus:84964253042
  • wos:000385265300004
ISSN
0035-3833
DOI
10.3917/rphi.161.0059
project
Interdisciplinärt halvdagsseminarium kring Derridas ’La littérature au secret’
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
659e61c2-6627-47ed-97f1-f0d961dd1e09 (old id 8726032)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:23:15
date last changed
2023-02-03 02:56:36
@article{659e61c2-6627-47ed-97f1-f0d961dd1e09,
  abstract     = {{Secrecy is a theme in Genesis 22, in Derrida's reading of the story, in which God commands Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. It is about keeping a secret, not secret as in hiding, but rather the secret of an exclusive relationship. This is embarrassing as it is excluding. Accepting this unique relationship by keeping the secret, Abraham demonstrates his willingness to enter into a relationship based on unconditional love. An essential part of this unconditionality and uniqueness is Abraham not referring to anybody or anything outside. He thus takes the responsibility entirely. This may be seen as being centred upon the individual. It may also be seen as a question of taking responsibility, deciding, and taking a stand. Interestingly enough, Abraham must be capable of failing, or in other words he must be capable of deciding not to obey the command. The call is for a unique relationship, but there must be a possibility of not responding to the call. Or, must there?}},
  author       = {{Fridlund, Patrik}},
  issn         = {{0035-3833}},
  keywords     = {{Derrida; Abraham; Genesis 22; Responsibility; Subjectivity}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{59--78}},
  publisher    = {{Presses Universitaires de France}},
  series       = {{Revue Philosophique de la France et de l'Étranger}},
  title        = {{Derrida, Abraham and Responsible Subjectivity}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3917/rphi.161.0059}},
  doi          = {{10.3917/rphi.161.0059}},
  volume       = {{141}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}