Leiden University Student Repository

Zandbergen, Jeroen Robbert (2014)

Awaiting Geodesics to come; the Freudian and Derridean Perspectives on the Jewish rite of Circumcision.

Master thesis | Philosophy (MA) (60 EC)

This paper deals with the phenomenon of circumcision and how Freud and Derrida, respectively, viewed this rite. Freud viewed it quite negatively, while Derrida, on the other hand, viewed it in a much more positive way. Based on a number of primary and secondary sources, we will argue in favor of Derrida’s approach to circumcision, and thus, we will argue against Freud. This is not to say that we reject Freud. Rather, we acknowledge the immense and ongoing influence of the genius of Freud. Yet, we amend his views on circumcision, using Derrida, who, himself, was greatly inspired by Freud. Ultimately, we will argue that Freud’s (somewhat Hegelian) view on circumcision is too rigid. As we will see below, Derrida’s dynamic approach is much more useful in contemporary philosophical debate.

Derrida

Freud

Circumcision

Philosophy

Psychoanalysis

Author

Zandbergen, Jeroen Robbert

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

MA Philosophy (60 EC)

Supervisors

Sneller, Rico

ECTS Credits

20

Language

en