▸ HEAD-TO-HEAD

DERRIDA VS FOUCAULT

Derrida
1930–2004
What's true is what survives the test.
Foucault
1926–1984
What's true is what survives the test.

▸ WHERE THEY SHARPLY DISAGREED

The three dimensions on which Derrida and Foucault are farthest apart on Mull's 0–10 scale.

  • Will to PowerΔ 5 / 10
    Derrida: 4/10
    Foucault: 9/10

    clearly (5/10): Foucault emphasises shaping and self-overcoming; Derrida weighs acceptance or context more.

  • Reverence for TraditionΔ 3 / 10
    Derrida: 4/10
    Foucault: 1/10

    somewhat (3/10): Derrida treats inherited tradition as a source of wisdom; Foucault is readier to question it.

  • Tragic VisionΔ 2 / 10
    Derrida: 5/10
    Foucault: 7/10

    somewhat (2/10): Foucault sees tragedy and limit as central; Derrida doesn't make that the starting point.

▸ WHERE THEY OVERLAPPED

Where the gap is smallest — both with meaningful presence on the dimension (not "neither cared").

  • Self as Illusiongap 0 / 10
    Derrida: 7/10
    Foucault: 7/10

    Both lean strongly into self as illusion.

  • Sovereign Selfgap 0 / 10
    Derrida: 6/10
    Foucault: 6/10

    Both register moderate sovereign self.

  • Communal Embeddednessgap 0 / 10
    Derrida: 6/10
    Foucault: 6/10

    Both register moderate communal embeddedness.

▸ ALL 16 DIMENSIONS

The full vector comparison. Bars show their 0–10 scores side-by-side.

  • Ascetic TendencyΔ 0
  • Communal EmbeddednessΔ 0
  • Embodied SensibilityΔ 1
  • Mystical ReceptivityΔ 2
  • Practical OrientationΔ 2
  • Reverence for TraditionΔ 3
  • Self as IllusionΔ 0
  • Skeptical ReflexΔ 0
  • Sovereign SelfΔ 0
  • Theoretical DriveΔ 1
  • Trust in ExperienceΔ 2
  • Trust in ReasonΔ 0
  • Tragic VisionΔ 2
  • Universalist ImpulseΔ 0
  • Vital AffirmationΔ 0
  • Will to PowerΔ 5
DERRIDAFOUCAULT
What to do next

Where do you sit between Derrida and Foucault?

  1. 01 · QUIZ
    The Inheritor
    Take the quiz — see which of them you sit closer to on the map.
    CONTINUE ▶
  2. 02 · PROFILE
    Lyotard
    A third thinker who sits between them — useful for triangulating.
    CONTINUE ▶
  3. 03 · ARENA
    Argue Derrida
    Face Derrida in a 5-minute single-turn debate, judged on rigor.
    CONTINUE ▶