Derrida: A Very Short Introduction

Simon Glendinning

Very Short Introductions

Explores Derrida's main books and essays and considers his central themes to provide a comprehensive picture of his work
Explains the theory of deconstruction and refutes the claims that it is negative and destructive
Defends Derrida against some of the attacks from the analytical philosophical community whilst explaining why it is that his work inspires such passionate criticism
Seeks to give the newcomer a sense of Derrida's challenge to the philosophical tradition, combined with some understanding of the range of reactions that challenge has provoked
Part of the bestselling Very Short Introductions series - over three million copies sold worldwide

Derrida: A Very Short Introduction

Simon Glendinning

Description

Jacques Derrida, the French philosopher, developed his critical technique known as 'deconstruction'. His work is associated with ideas surrounding both post-structuralism and post-modern philosophy, and he was known to have challenged some of the unquestioned assumptions of our philosophical tradition.

In this Very Short Introduction, Simon Glendinning explores both the difficulty and significance of the work of Derrida. He presents Derrida's challenging ideas as making a significant contribution to, and providing a powerful reading of, our philosophical heritage. Defending Derrida against many of the charges that were placed against him, he attempts to show why Derrrida's work causes such extreme reactions.

Glendinning explains Derrida's distinctive mode of engagement with our philosophical tradition, and shows that this is not a merely negative thing. By exploring his most famous and influential texts, Glendinning shows how and why Derrida's work of deconstruction is inspired not by a 'critical frenzy', but by a loving respect for philosophy.

ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Derrida: A Very Short Introduction

Simon Glendinning

Very Short Introductions

Derrida: A Very Short Introduction

Simon Glendinning

Very Short Introductions

Author Information

Simon Glendinning, Reader in European Philosophy, European Institute, London School of Economics and Political Science

Derrida: A Very Short Introduction

Simon Glendinning

Very Short Introductions

Reviews and Awards

"Glendinning's overview is accurate and informed" - Times Literary Supplement

"it's very short, and certainly worth reading" - New Statesman

"Glendinnings book is dense and fast-paced; although extensive philosophical knowledge is not assumed, its readers are required to assimilate complex ideas at quite some speed and this in itself will be enough to deter some. However, Glendinnings implied reader is perhaps not the philosophical novice, rather the curious student or scholar made wary by Derridas reputation and the hostility of the tradition. In this case, Glendinnings clarity and rigour, his commitment to careful reading, and his skilful mediation between Derridas voluminous back-catalogue and the inexperienced reader will be sufficient to engage and stimulate new readers and new readings of Derridas work."

Derrida: A Very Short Introduction

Simon Glendinning

Very Short Introductions

From Our Blog

Derrida on the madness of our time

By Simon Glendinning In 1994 Jacques Derrida participated in a seminar in Capri under the title 'Religion'. Derrida himself thought 'religion' might be a good word, perhaps the best word for thinking about our time, our 'today'. It belongs, Derrida suggested, to the 'absolute anachrony' of our time. Religion? Isn't it that old thing that we moderns had thought had gone away, the thing that really does not belong in our time? And yet, so it seems, it is still alive and well.

Posted on June 13, 2014

Read the blog post

Derrida and Europe beyond Eurocentrism and Anti-Eurocentrism

By Simon Glendinning Two months before his death in October 2004, Jacques Derrida gave an interview to the French newspaper Le Monde which turned out to be his last. Although he refused to treat it as an occasion in which to give what he called 'a health bulletin,' he acknowledged that he was seriously ill, and the discussion is overshadowed by that fact: there is a strong sense of someone taking stock, someone taking the chance to give a final word.

Posted on April 27, 2012

Read the blog post

Derrida: A Very Short Introduction

Simon Glendinning

Very Short Introductions

Reading Guide

In this Very Short Introduction, Simon Glendinning explores both the difficulty and significance of the work of Derrida. He presents Derrida's challenging ideas as making a significant contribution to, and providing a powerful reading of, our philosophical heritage. Defending Derrida against many of the charges that were placed against him, he attempts to show why Derrrida's work causes such extreme reactions.

PDF download Download this VSI Reading Guide as an Adobe PDF (28 KB)

Questions for Thought and Discussion

What do you understand by Derrida's claim that there is a 'death effect' associated with photographs of people.
What political motive do you think Derrida had when he tried, unsuccessfully, to prevent an authorial 'head-shot' photograph of himself being published?
What more is there to 'understanding the meaning of a word' than knowing how it is used?
What do you think Derrida means by logocentrism?
What do you think Derrida means by ethnocentrism?
What do you think Derrida means by phonocentrism?
Is Derrida right to think that attention to the structure and functioning of writing tells us something about the use of language in general?
What do you think Derrida means by deconstruction?
Can we forgive the unforgivable?
Is every 'gift' really just a moment in an economy of exchange?
Is every ideal form of political community somehow less than ideal?
How would you explain the idea of the difference between human beings and other animals?
Do you think Derrida supposes that, as far as the interpretation of a text is concerned' anything goes?
Derrida is sometimes called a 'postmodernist'. What, if anything, is right about that label?
Derrida is sometimes called a 'poststructuralist'. What, if anything, is right about that label?
Derrida is sometimes called a 'Continental philosopher'. What, if anything, is right about that label?