The following text is about literary theory.
Deconstruction, associated with Jacques Derrida, questions the stability of meaning in texts. Derrida argued that language operates through differences and deferrals (he coined "différance" combining both): words gain meaning from what they differ from, and meaning is always deferred, never finally fixed. A text cannot contain a stable meaning because meaning depends on contexts that shift endlessly. Critics charge deconstruction with nihilism—if meaning is unstable, interpretation becomes arbitrary. Defenders respond that recognizing instability encourages more careful, attentive reading rather than careless relativism.
What do defenders say recognition of meaning's instability encourages?
Complete abandonment of interpretation
Careless relativism about texts
More careful and attentive reading
Ignoring all context in which texts are written
Correct Answer: C
Choice C is the correct answer. Defenders "respond that recognizing instability encourages more careful, attentive reading rather than careless relativism."
- Evidence: Careful, attentive reading is the claimed outcome.
- Reasoning: Instability awareness promotes rather than removes care.
- Conclusion: Recognition leads to more careful reading.
Choice A is incorrect because more attentive reading is encouraged, not abandonment. Choice B is incorrect because the defense is explicitly against this charge. Choice D is incorrect because context is central to deconstruction.