Understanding the Context:
The term "remainder" in the philosophical and critical theory context is not just a leftover or residue in the mathematical sense, but a concept tied to ideas of deconstruction, trace, and différance, all central to Jacques Derrida's philosophy.
Why Derrida?
Deconstruction and the Remainder:
Jacques Derrida developed deconstruction, a method of critical analysis of texts and philosophical concepts.
In this method, he often focused on what is excluded, repressed, or left out by systems of logic or structures — that which “remains” and cannot be fully accounted for.
He described this as “the remainder”, an element that disrupts closure, totality, or full presence.
Examples in Derrida’s Work:
In works such as Of Grammatology and Writing and Difference, Derrida uses the idea of a “remainder” or “supplement” to refer to what exceeds or undermines binary oppositions (e.g., speech/writing, presence/absence).
He challenges the idea that meaning can ever be fully present or self-contained, suggesting that there is always something left unsaid or unresolved — this is the remainder.
Theoretical Implication:
The remainder is not just an afterthought; it is central to how meaning is formed. It represents the incompleteness or instability of systems that attempt to be whole or coherent.
For Derrida, the remainder is what keeps interpretation and meaning open — it is the trace of what cannot be reduced to the main structure.
Year-wise PYQs
