C. S. Lewis and Derrida: An Exploration

Abstract

While many scholars have presented C. S. Lewis’s understanding of language and meaning as directly opposed to those of Jaques Derrida, others have seen similarities between their understanding of these same concepts. This paper provides an overview of the two different perspectives while also introducing other concepts that they both address. These include their attitudes about the changing nature of how people understand the world they live in, and how words change meaning. They also share an interest in wonder, and in some ways, agree on how forgiveness works.

Keywords

• C. S. Lewis
• Jacques Derrida
• deconstruction
• wonder
• forgiveness