Event of Signature formulates a new philosophical problem which focuses on the handwritten signature as sign of legal identification. Author Michaela Fišerová works with three
metaphysical expectations, which are shared in discourses of graphology and forensic analysis. The first expectation tends to reveal the signer’s soul: a handwritten signature ‘naturally’ mirrors the unique psychological qualities of the signer. The second expectation tends to guarantee the originality of the signer’s trace: a handwritten signature proves physical contact between the signed document and the writing tool ‘authentically’ moved by the signer’s hand. The third expectation tends to recognize the signer’s legal identity: a handwritten signature is expected to reproduce the signer’s personal style, which enables identification by legal authorities. In a methodologically inventive and semiotically-based dialogue with Derrida’s deconstruction, Fišerová situates this triple expectation in the interval between life and law. Challenging coverage of this topic finally shows that none of the metaphysical expectations will ever be fulfilled in the event of manual signing. Legal uses of handwritten signature are characterized by the complex aporia of repeating the unrepeatable.
Table of Content
Acknowledgments
Preface
Introduction
1. Handwritten Signature’s Interval Between Life and Law
What Can Be Expected of Handwritten Signature?
What Are Metaphysical and Discursive Expectations?
2. The Discursive Expectations of Handwritten Signature
Discourse of Graphology: The Transparent Expression
Discourse of Forensic Analysis: The Original Style
3. The Metaphysical Expectations of Handwritten Signature
‘Natural’ Resemblance
‘Authentic’ Tracing
‘Identical’ Repetition
4. Deconstructing Handwritten Signature I
Aporia of Natural Resemblance
Spectral Resemblance
5. Deconstructing Handwritten Signature II
Aporia of Authentic Tracing
Disseminated Tracing
6. Deconstructing Handwritten Signature III
Aporia of Identical Repetition
Iterated Repetition
7. Event of Manual Signing: On Repeating of the Unrepeatable
Event Trapped in Interpretation
Event Trapped in Representation
The Event of Iteration
Postscript
Notes
Bibliography
Name Index
Subject Index
About the author
Michaela Fišerová is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the Metropolitan University Prague in the Czech Republic.
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