About the Book

A critical anthology that re-examines Jacques Derrida’s thought by way of theory and praxis, this volume reflects on his striking legacy and the future of theory. Among contemporary thinkers, Derrida challenges not only our ways of thinking but also hitherto methods of critical inquiry. In the attempt to renovate and re-energise philosophy, Derrida questions the fundamental assumptions of Western philosophical thought, and, in turn, exposes the intricate lie behind binaries, such as, speech/writing, nature/culture, male/female, black/white, literature/criticism, etc., which have continued to shape our worldview — where a hegemonic centre is always already in place dominating/marginalising the ‘other’.

This book explores not only the status of Derrida’s contribution as a critical thinker but also the status of critical theory as such in the contemporary milieu. The central question that it asks is whether we should dismiss Derrida as a thinker who espoused an extreme form of relativism, bordering on nihilism, or has he something fundamental to contribute to the future of theory. Could it be that deconstruction is not destruction but a possibility that casts doubts on whether the present can have faith in future? The volume addresses some important concerns of our times, such as, religious practice, art and aesthetics, translation, sociology of philosophy, and democracy, making a significant contribution to literary theory. Scholars of English literature, philosophy, sociology and cultural studies will find this work particularly appealing.