Derrida invented the term ‘hauntology’ to refer to the
logic of the ghost. (I think the term first appears in his book Spectres
of Marx.) In French, the word ‘hauntology’ sounds identical to the word
‘ontology’, which it is part of Derrida’s purpose to critique.
Derrida defines khora by what it isn't, khora is that
which defies the logic of noncontradiction, the logic of either/or.
"Considering that every predicative language is inadequate to the essence,
in truth to the hyperessentiality (the being beyond Being) of God; consequently,
only a negative (‘apophatic’) attribution can claim to approach God and
to prepare for a silent intuition of God."
J Derrida, “How to avoid speaking: denials”, in S Budick
& W Iser (eds) Languages of the Unsayable: The Play of Negativity in
Literature and Literary Theory (NY: Columbia Univ
Press, 1989) pp 3-70. See also H Coward & T. Foshay (eds) Derrida
and Negative Theology (Albany NY: SUNY Press, 1992)
Many people in technology change management talk about
overcoming resistance.
Technology change is seen as a battle between the forces of progress (i.e.
the champions of technology) and the forces of resistance.
This echoes a popular theme in psychotherapy, where the therapist is
supposed to overcome the resistance of the patient - resistance is interpreted
as a sign of hostility on the part of the patient. This is explored (in
his characteristic convoluted style) by Derrida. (For a Frenchman, of course,
the contrast between Resistance and Collaboration has particular historical
significance.)
Resistances of Psychoanalysis Explores
the resistance to analysis contained within Freud, Lacan and Foucault.
