The Gift of Death x{0026} Literature in Secret

Resumen del libro

"The Gift of Death", Jacques Derrida's most sustained consideration of religion, explores questions first introduced in his book "Given Time" about the limits of the rational and responsible that one reaches in granting or accepting death, whether by sacrifice, murder, execution, or suicide. Derrida analyzes Czech philosopher Jan Patocka's "Heretical Essays in the Philosophy of History" and develops and compares his ideas to the works of Heidegger, Levinas, and Kierkegaard. One of Derrida's major works, "The Gift of Death" resonates with much of his earlier writing, and this highly anticipated second edition is greatly enhanced by David Wills' updated translation.This new edition also features the first-ever English translation of Derrida's "Literature in Secret".

In it, Derrida continues his discussion of the sacrifice of Isaac, which leads to bracing meditations on secrecy, forgiveness, literature, and democracy. He also offers a reading of Kafka's "Letter to His Father" and uses the story of the flood in "Genesis" as an embarkation point for a consideration of divine sovereignty.

Biografía del autor

Jacques Derrida (Argelia, 1930 - Francia, 2004) es uno de los principales pensadores de la segunda mitad del siglo XX. Fue director de estudios de la École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales de París, donde impartió clases durante toda su carrera, y profesor visitante en diversas universidades norteamericanas. Asociado a corrientes como el posestructuralismo y la filosofía posmoderna, acuñó el concepto de deconstrucción . Es autor de una vasta obra, entre la que destacan De la gramatología, La diseminación, Espectros de Marx y Políticas de la amistad.