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Derrida: Deconstruction from Phenomenology to Ethics (Key Contemporary Thinkers)

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Ms. Howells' account of Derrida's development and the philosophical roots of deconstruction renders his writings understandable for those not well-versed in the continental tradition, while not at the expense of over-simplification or distortion. However, the truth is that when it comes to Derrida there are no conclusive answers, which is precisely his point about the Western philosophical project. Ms. Howells explains Derridean notions such as the infamous differance, the trace, etc... in lucid prose and does not gloss over the slippery and nuanced character of his fundamental insights. She gives a well-reasoned account of Derrida's critiques of Husserl and Sausure, which is essential for understanding the geneology of Derrida's claims about meaning and his challenge to the metaphysical tradition. Although Christopher Norris and Jonathan Culler have also written digestible introductory texts, they are now outdated. Ms. Howells also discusses Derrida's ethical and political interests and addresses the influence of Levinas on his thinking. This is a good place to start for those who are tired of the facile dismissals of Derrida (by people who either have not read the primary texts, or misunderstood them). After this book you may want to consider "Radical Hermeneutics" by John Caputo which deals with Derrida at a greater philosophical depth.