How did Paul de Man describe his intellectual approach to language and philosophy?

Paul de Man, a central figure in the development of deconstruction, described his intellectual approach as that of a "linguistic philosopher," a characterization that was nonetheless disputed by some established philosophers.12

His approach to language and philosophy was rooted in the following concepts:

• System of Rhetorical Figures: De Man based his theories on a system of rhetorical figures, arguing that if examined in detail, all language contradicts itself and its claims to "meaning" are inherently "slippery".12
• Critique of Post-Kantian Philosophy: In his early work, he argued that both post-Kantian philosophy and literary criticism frequently confuse the structure of language with the principles that organize natural reality.2
• Linguistic Predicament: De Man viewed humanity through the lens of a "linguistic predicament," famously suggesting that "death is a displaced name for a linguistic predicament".3
• Opaque Methodology: His writing was often characterized by a "despairing mutism" and the use of opaque, technical language. While critics often dismissed this as empty jargon, his students defended it, asserting that every academic discipline has the right to develop its own specialized technical language.23