Deconstruction in a Nutshell - A Conversation with Jacques Derrida

Responding to questions put to him at a Roundtable held at Villanova University in 1994, Jacques Derrida leads the reader through an illuminating discussion of the central themes of deconstruction. Speaking in English and extemporaneously, Derrida takes up with clarity and eloquence such topics as the task of philosophy, the Greeks, justice, responsibility, the gift, community, the distinction between the messianic and the concrete messianisms, and his interpretation of James Joyce. Derrida convincingly refutes the charges of relativism and nihilism that are often leveled at deconstruction by its critics, and sets forth the profoundly affirmative ethico-political thrust of this work. The Roundtable is annotated by John D. Caputo, the David R. Cook Professor of Philosophy at Villanova University, who has supplied cross-references to Derrida's writings, where the reader may find further discussion on these topics. Professor Caputo has also supplied a commentary which elaborates the principal issues raised in the Roundtable.

About the author

Jacques Derrida was the single most influential voice in European philosophy for the last third of the twentieth century. His many books include Of Grammatology, Specters of Marx, and The Animal That Therefore I Am.

Summary

A wonderfully helpful and stimulating book... Highly recommended.-ChoiceOne of the most comprehensive and valuable interpretations of deconstruction to date. Highly recommended.-Library Journal

Product details

• Authors: Jacques Derrida
• Assisted by: John D Caputo (Editor), John D. Caputo (Editor)
• Publisher: Fordham University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 01.01.1996
• EAN: 9780823217540
• ISBN: 978-0-8232-1754-0
• No. of pages: 215
• Dimensions: 158 mm x 235 mm x 19 mm
• Weight: 494 g
• Series: Perspectives in Continental Philosophy; Perspectives in Continental Ph; Perspectives in Continental Ph; Perspectives in Continental Philosophy
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative linguistics; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Philosophy: antiquity to present day; Literaturtheorie, Sprachphilosophie