The Derrida-Habermas Reader (Paperback)

by Lasse Thomassen (Editor)

Editorial Reviews

Review
This is a most welcome volume. It provides the reader not only with an wonderful overview of the deep philosophical differences that divide Derrida and Habermas, but also with some sense of their common hopes as Europeans and cosmopolitan citizens. The excellent selection of primary texts is supported by a small number of well-chosen commentaries on the two thinkers. -- Stephen K. White, James Hart Professor of Politics, University of Virginia The belated rapprochement between Derrida and Habermas after decades of cross-purpose exchange is one of the most important and heartening events in recent intellectual history. This exceptionally well-edited volume brings together a range of representative texts which show how their earlier disagreements took hold but also how they came to acknowledge a sense of shared aims and interests. Above all it demonstrates the extent to which their thinking was challenged and subject to careful re-assessment on both sides in response to world-political developments following 9/11, the resurgence of religious fundamentalism in various forms, and the Bush administration's 'war on terrorism'. Along with these texts by the main protagonists goes a fine selection of commentaries on various aspects of the Derrida/Habermas relationship, drawing out their points of convergence and divergence on some of the most pressing political and ethical issues of our age. Altogether they make a fitting tribute to two figures who have done much to reinvigorate the tradition of philosophy as socially engaged while remaining true to its distinctive vocation of autonomous critical thought. That their dialogue should have been cut short by Derrida's untimely death is a cruel irony but all the more reason to value this immensely significant and thought-provoking volume -- Professor Christopher Norris, Cardiff University This is a most welcome volume. It provides the reader not only with an wonderful overview of the deep philosophical differences that divide Derrida and Habermas, but also with some sense of their common hopes as Europeans and cosmopolitan citizens. The excellent selection of primary texts is supported by a small number of well-chosen commentaries on the two thinkers. The belated rapprochement between Derrida and Habermas after decades of cross-purpose exchange is one of the most important and heartening events in recent intellectual history. This exceptionally well-edited volume brings together a range of representative texts which show how their earlier disagreements took hold but also how they came to acknowledge a sense of shared aims and interests. Above all it demonstrates the extent to which their thinking was challenged and subject to careful re-assessment on both sides in response to world-political developments following 9/11, the resurgence of religious fundamentalism in various forms, and the Bush administration's 'war on terrorism'. Along with these texts by the main protagonists goes a fine selection of commentaries on various aspects of the Derrida/Habermas relationship, drawing out their points of convergence and divergence on some of the most pressing political and ethical issues of our age. Altogether they make a fitting tribute to two figures who have done much to reinvigorate the tradition of philosophy as socially engaged while remaining true to its distinctive vocation of autonomous critical thought. That their dialogue should have been cut short by Derrida's untimely death is a cruel irony but all the more reason to value this immensely significant and thought-provoking volume --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
"Those wishing to explore the many openings and tensions engendered by the Derrida-Habermas discussion are well served to have this encounter on toleration and hospitality collected in a single resource alongside othe conceptually generative exchanges. . . . All of the essays assembled in The Derrida-Habermas Reader are significant contributions to a rich and vibrant dialogue inaugurated by two of the most prominent philosophers of the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Scholars and students of Derrida and Habermas are well counseled to grant them careful consideration." (Richard Ganis Radical Philosophy Review ) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 330 pages
• Publisher: University Of Chicago Press; 1 edition (July 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0226796841
• ISBN-13: 978-0226796840
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,236,463 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars ok, not great, January 26, 2007

By	Gertude Whitman (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

The first thing you'll notice reading this book is a rather large number of typos -- very frustrating when trying to parse a difficult sentence by Habermas or Derrida is coming across a "who" that should be a "when". Hopefully a new edition will smooth those issues out.

The main problem with the reader as far as I see is twofold. First of all, the direct "engagement" between Derrida and Habermas was for a long time rather shallow in the sense that the two of them really did not engage with each other in a profound sense. Secondly, the "secondary" reading -- the chapters are about fifty-fifty primary and secondary material -- is rather irritating at times.

Quite often the secondary readings propose "fusions" of Derrida and Habermas that elide their differences or, better, pick and choose the bits that are compatable, and end up being rather idiosyncratic -- i.e., the secondary readings are really more about the theories those authors wish to promote. On a different track, many of the secondary readings -- being drawn from different sources -- repeat the "basics" of Habermas and Derrida (as if there were such a thing!) over and over, so it gets tiresome to read yet another essay that spends 75% of the time painting with a rather broad brush.

So it is not as awesome a book as one might hope. For me (someone much more familiar with Derrida than Habermas) it's been a nice introduction to Habermas from an unusual angle.