Derrida

Philosophy in an Hour

By: Paul Strathern

Write A Review

eBook | 17 May 2012

At a Glance

ePUB
94 Pages

Edition Type
Digital original

eBook

$9.99

or 4 interest-free payments of $2.50 with

Instant Digital Delivery to your Kobo Reader App

Philosophy for busy people. Read a succinct account of the philosophy of Derrida in just one hour.

Jacques Derrida's 'deconstructionism' is nothing less than an effort to destroy all 'writing' by demonstrating its inevitable falsehood. The writer writes but does not know what he is writing. Derrida argues that all texts have their own hidden agenda and contain their own metaphysical assumptions - the writer's very language inevitably distorts what he thinks and writes. The 'truth' of all our knowledge is thus undermined; post-structuralism arrives.

Here is a concise, expert account of Derrida's life and philosophical ideas - entertainingly written and easy to understand. Also included are selections from Derrida's work, suggested further reading, and chronologies that place Derrida in the context of the broader scheme of philosophy.

Industry Reviews

'Well-written, clear and informed, they have a breezy wit about them . . .I find them hard to stop reading.' New York Times

'Witty, illuminating, and blessedly concise' Wall Street Journal

'Each of these little books is witty and dramatic and creates a sense of time, place, and character . . . I cannot think of a better way to introduce oneself and one's friends to Western civilization.' Boston Globe

'A godsend in this era of the short attention span.' New York Times