Postcards and Proofs 1979–1981 315
Parmentier. Even though his relation with Derrida had gone through
some tricky patches, and the ‘Derridamania’ that was starting to
spread in the United States had occasionally irritated him, Ricoeur
could imagine only one person as his successor – his former assistant
at the Sorbonne. In his view, the author of Speech and Phenomena
was the only one able to extend, even if in a critical fashion, his
research on Husserl and phenomenology.^23 And so, before handing
in his resignation, Ricoeur informed Derrida, in complete confi dence.
Derrida replied in a long letter on 1 July 1979, just a few days after
the Estates General of philosophy. After ‘days and days of hesita-
tion and refl ection – and of anguish’, he decided it would be better
to turn down the possibility that Ricoeur had ‘so generously opened
up’. This was not just because of the uncertainties and obscurities of
the process on which he would need to embark to submit a thesis sur
travaux,* nor because of his tense relations ‘with a certain university
authority’, it was mainly because he was unsure he wished to take on
such a heavy responsibility:
I am a little scared, yes, scared, that these new burdens, this new
life, might make it even more diffi cult to pursue a certain type of
work, or even action or struggle, which I feel I must continue. It
is, more on my level, a small responsibility, but a responsibility
all the same. The École Normale is not the ideal place for this,
but, ultimately, I have the impression right now that, for a little
longer, my freedom to work will be less limited. I may be making
a serious mistake and it is highly possible that I will regret my
decision. But at the moment I cannot see clearly enough to
reach any other decision. I do not have the strength to do so.^24Derrida signed off his letter by saying how much he had been
‘moved, profoundly encouraged’, and, as it were, ‘justifi ed’ by the
trust Ricoeur had just shown him. The latter in turn said that he was
very touched by the frankness of Derrida’s explanations: ‘To say
that I can understand your reasons would not go far enough. I have
the deepest respect for the intellectual integrity that I can discern
in your position.’^25 He took this opportunity to assure his former
antagonist of his deep aff ection.
But, in November, the problem of Nanterre raised its head again,
now more urgently. One Saturday morning, after an hour’s journey
under a heavy downpour, Ricoeur found only one student waiting
for him in the room where he was to give his agrégation class. He
was furious, and went straight up to the offi ce to ask to take early
retirement.^26 Several of Ricoeur’s friends then went to see Derrida
and managed to overcome his reluctance, assuring him that his
- A doctorate awarded on the basis of work already published. – Tr.