The Gift of Death and Literature in Secret
2008
First Published
4.16
Average Rating
160
Number of Pages
In this, his most sustained consideration of religion to date, Derrida continues to explore questions introduced in Given Time about the limits of rationality and responsibility that one reaches in granting or accepting death, whether by sacrifice, murder, execution, or suicide. "Provocative."—Publishers Weekly. Collection: Religion and Postmodernism Series
Avg Rating
4.16
Number of Ratings
245
5 STARS
44%
4 STARS
34%
3 STARS
16%
2 STARS
5%
1 STARS
1%
goodreads
Author
Jacques Derrida
Author · 84 books
Jacques Derrida was the founder of “deconstruction,” a way of criticizing not only both literary and philosophical texts but also political institutions. Although Derrida at times expressed regret concerning the fate of the word “deconstruction,” its popularity indicates the wide-ranging influence of his thought, in philosophy, in literary criticism and theory, in art and, in particular, architectural theory, and in political theory. Indeed, Derrida's fame nearly reached the status of a media star, with hundreds of people filling auditoriums to hear him speak, with films and televisions programs devoted to him, with countless books and articles devoted to his thinking. Beside critique, Derridean deconstruction consists in an attempt to re-conceive the difference that divides self-reflection (or self-consciousness). But even more than the re-conception of difference, and perhaps more importantly, deconstruction works towards preventing the worst violence. It attempts to render justice. Indeed, deconstruction is relentless in this pursuit since justice is impossible to achieve.
