judgmentFrom the postmodern perspective of Jacques Derrida (1930–2004) and
his non-method of deconstruction, he sets forth to subvert texts by using
them against themselves instead of attempting to interpret them.
Influenced by Heidegger’s term “Destruktion,” Derrida claims to be con-
tinuing a trend begun by the German philosopher and attempting to bring
it to a conclusion by deconstructing the presence of the present.
Deconstruction aims to disarrange the construction of terms in a sentence
and disassemble the parts of a whole. For Derrida, this means to locate
the otherness within a text that suggests a logocentric conceptuality and
then to deconstruct this conceptuality by obtaining a position of exterior-
ity, a kind of writing executed on the margins of the text. Derrida likens
deconstruction to an exergue, an inscription on the face of a coin or at the
beginning of a book, which involves making something evident.
Deconstruction functions as a parasite by preying on other texts, read-
ings, or interpretations in an endless process that attempts to overturn
hierarchies by subverting them from the inside.Further reading: Derrida (1976); Gadamer (1975); Heidegger (1962); Ricoeur
(1976)
JUDGMENT
From very ancient times, many religious traditions conceive of some kind
of final judgment usually based on a person’s earthly conduct. The judg-
ment is often determined by one or more supernatural beings or a legisla-
tive court of judges. The verdict rendered decides whether a person’s fate
involves reward or punishment. Therefore, judgment is often closely
associated with concepts of the end of time and heaven or hell.
In ancient Mesopotamian religion, after the deceased is buried, the
ghost of the deceased sets out for the netherworld, a land of no return,
where the new arrival passes through seven gates guarded by seven fierce
porters. The ghost makes offerings to the gods of the netherworld ruled
by Queen Ereshkigal and her consort, Nergal. Although unconcerned
with the earthly deeds of the deceased, the ghost is judged.
In ancient Egypt, the deceased reaches the hall of Osiris and gives a
lengthy confession about sins that one does not commit during life. Then,
the deceased is questioned by an assembly of gods about knowledge
pertaining to the names of powers, before entering the presence of Osiris,
lord of death, where the heart of the deceased (seat of human intellect and