[lbo-talk] The Latest Theory Is That Theory Doesn't Matter

[Carrol Cox]

In this context, "theory" means theory of interpretation, and the
question is whether theory can constain  the interpretation of a text.
The various isms which emerge from this all have either implicitly or
explicitly claimed that the correct construal of texts can be
emanicipatory. But if theory can't constrain interpretation, then theory
can't emancipate.

There was a huge hullabaloo about this in the pages of _Critical
Inquiry_ a couple decades ago, beginning with an essay, "Against
Theory," by two men whose names I don't remember. My copies of CI are
upstairs and I don't feel energetic enough just now to go up and get the
issue to find the names and give the exact date. When I first read the
issue I was unaware of the whole controversy, and tried to construe the
arguments using "theory" as Chuck says he uses it. The issue didn't make
sense until I figured out that the quarrel was only about how to
construe a text.

Carrol