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'''Jacques Derrida''', born Jackie Élie Derrida; July 15, 1930 – October 9, 2004) was a French [[philosopher]], born in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Algeria French Algeria]. Derrida is best known for developing a form of [[semiotic]] analysis known as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deconstruction deconstruction]. He is one of the major figures associated with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-structuralism post-structuralism] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmodern_philosophy postmodern philosophy].

'''Jacques Derrida''', born Jackie Élie Derrida; July 15, 1930 – October 9, 2004) was a French [[philosopher]], born in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Algeria French Algeria]. Derrida is best known for developing a form of [[semiotic]] analysis known as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deconstruction deconstruction]. He is one of the major figures associated with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-structuralism post-structuralism] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmodern_philosophy postmodern philosophy].

During his career Derrida published more than 40 books, together with hundreds of essays and public presentations. He had a significant influence upon the humanities and social sciences, including—in addition to [[philosophy]] and [[literature]]—law, [[anthropology]], historiography, [[linguistics]], sociolinguistics, [[psychoanalysis]], political theory, feminism, and queer studies. His work still has a major influence in the academe of Continental Europe, South America and all other countries where [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_philosophy continental philosophy] is predominant, particularly in [[debates]] around [[ontology]], [[epistemology]] (especially concerning [[social sciences]]), [[ethics]], [[aesthetics]], [[hermeneutics]], and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy_of_language philosophy of language]. Jacques Derrida's work also influenced architecture (in the form of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deconstructivism deconstructivism]), music, art, and art critics. Derrida was said to "leave behind a legacy of himself as the 'originator' of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deconstruction deconstruction]."

During his career Derrida published more than 40 books, together with hundreds of essays and public presentations. He had a significant influence upon the humanities and social sciences, including—in addition to [[philosophy]] and [[literature]]—law, [[anthropology]], historiography, [[linguistics]], sociolinguistics, [[psychoanalysis]], political theory, feminism, and queer studies. His work still has a major influence in the academe of Continental Europe, South America and all other countries where [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continental_philosophy continental philosophy] is predominant, particularly in [[debates]] around [[ontology]], [[epistemology]] (especially concerning [[social sciences]]), [[ethics]], [[aesthetics]], [[hermeneutics]], and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy_of_language philosophy of language]. Jacques Derrida's work also influenced architecture (in the form of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deconstructivism deconstructivism]), music, art, and art critics. Derrida was said to "leave behind a legacy of himself as the 'originator' of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deconstruction deconstruction]."

Particularly in his later writings, he frequently addressed [[ethical]] and [[political]] themes present in his work. These writings influenced various activists and political [[movements]]. Derrida became a well-known and influential public figure, while his approach to philosophy and the notorious difficulty of his work made him [[controversial]].

Particularly in his later writings, he frequently addressed [[ethical]] and [[political]] themes present in his work. These writings influenced various activists and political [[movements]]. Derrida became a well-known and influential public figure, while his approach to philosophy and the notorious difficulty of his work made him [[controversial]].

On multiple occasions, Derrida referred to himself as a historian. Derrida questioned assumptions of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_philosophical_tradition Western philosophical tradition] and also more broadly Western culture. By questioning the dominant [[discourses]], and trying to [[modify]] them, he attempted to democratize the [[university]] scene and to politicize it. During the American [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_1980s_culture_wars 1980s culture wars], this would attract the [[anger]] of politically conservative and right-wing intellectuals who were trying to defend the [[status quo]].

On multiple occasions, Derrida referred to himself as a historian. Derrida questioned assumptions of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_philosophical_tradition Western philosophical tradition] and also more broadly Western culture. By questioning the dominant [[discourses]], and trying to [[modify]] them, he attempted to democratize the [[university]] scene and to politicize it. During the American [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_1980s_culture_wars 1980s culture wars], this would attract the [[anger]] of politically conservative and right-wing intellectuals who were trying to defend the [[status quo]].

Derrida called his [[challenge]] to the [[assumptions]] of Western culture "deconstruction". On some occasions, Derrida referred to deconstruction as a radicalization of a certain spirit of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marxism Marxism].

Derrida called his [[challenge]] to the [[assumptions]] of Western culture "deconstruction". On some occasions, Derrida referred to deconstruction as a radicalization of a certain spirit of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marxism Marxism].

Deconstruction is an attempt to [[expose]] and undermine the [[binary]] oppositions, [[hierarchies]], and [[paradoxes]] on which particular [[texts]], philosophical and otherwise, are founded. Derrida saw deconstruction as a challenge to unquestioned assumptions of the Western philosophical tradition. Derrida approaches all texts as constructed around binary oppositions which all [[speech]] has to articulate if it intends to make any sense whatsoever. This approach to text, in a broad sense, emerges from [[semiotics]] advanced by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_de_Saussure Ferdinand de Saussure]. Saussure is considered one of the fathers of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structuralism structuralism] and he posited that terms get their [[meaning]] in reciprocal determination with other terms inside language.

Deconstruction is an attempt to [[expose]] and undermine the [[binary]] oppositions, [[hierarchies]], and [[paradoxes]] on which particular [[texts]], philosophical and otherwise, are founded. Derrida saw deconstruction as a challenge to unquestioned assumptions of the Western philosophical tradition. Derrida approaches all texts as constructed around binary oppositions which all [[speech]] has to articulate if it intends to make any sense whatsoever. This approach to text, in a broad sense, emerges from [[semiotics]] advanced by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferdinand_de_Saussure Ferdinand de Saussure]. Saussure is considered one of the fathers of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structuralism structuralism] and he posited that terms get their [[meaning]] in reciprocal determination with other terms inside language.

Perhaps Derrida's most quoted and famous assertion, which appears in an essay on [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Jacques_Rousseau Rousseau] in his book ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Of_Grammatology Of Grammatology]'' is the statement that "there is nothing outside the [[text]]" (il n'y a pas de hors-texte). Critics of Derrida have quoted it as a slogan to characterize and stigmatize deconstruction. Derrida once explained that this [[assertion]] "which for some has become a sort of slogan, in general so badly understood, of deconstruction (...) means nothing else: there is nothing outside [[context]]. In this form, which says exactly the same thing, the [[formula]] would doubtless have been less shocking."

Perhaps Derrida's most quoted and famous assertion, which appears in an essay on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Jacques_Rousseau Rousseau] in his book ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Of_Grammatology Of Grammatology]'' is the statement that "there is nothing outside the [[text]]" (il n'y a pas de hors-texte). Critics of Derrida have quoted it as a slogan to characterize and stigmatize deconstruction. Derrida once explained that this [[assertion]] "which for some has become a sort of slogan, in general so badly understood, of deconstruction (...) means nothing else: there is nothing outside [[context]]. In this form, which says exactly the same thing, the [[formula]] would doubtless have been less shocking."

In his 1989 ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contingency,_Irony,_and_Solidarity Contingency, Irony, and Solidarity]'', [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Rorty Richard Rorty] argues that Derrida (especially in his book, ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Post_Card:_From_Socrates_to_Freud_and_Beyond The Post Card: From Socrates to Freud and Beyond]'') purposefully uses words that cannot be defined (e.g. différance), and uses previously definable words in contexts diverse enough to make understanding impossible, so that the [[reader]] will never be able to contextualize Derrida's literary [[self]]. Rorty, however, argues that this intentional obfuscation is philosophically grounded. In garbling his message Derrida is attempting to [[escape]] the [[naïve]], positive metaphysical projects of his predecessors.

In his 1989 ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contingency,_Irony,_and_Solidarity Contingency, Irony, and Solidarity]'', [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Rorty Richard Rorty] argues that Derrida (especially in his book, ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Post_Card:_From_Socrates_to_Freud_and_Beyond The Post Card: From Socrates to Freud and Beyond]'') purposefully uses words that cannot be defined (e.g. différance), and uses previously definable words in contexts diverse enough to make understanding impossible, so that the [[reader]] will never be able to contextualize Derrida's literary [[self]]. Rorty, however, argues that this intentional obfuscation is philosophically grounded. In garbling his message Derrida is attempting to [[escape]] the [[naïve]], positive metaphysical projects of his predecessors.

Critical obituaries of Derrida were published in The New York Times, The Economist, and The Independent. The magazine The Nation responded to the NYT obituary saying that "even though American papers had scorned and [[Trivia|trivialized]] Derrida before, the [[tone]] seemed particularly caustic for an obituary of an internationally acclaimed philosopher who had profoundly influenced two [[generations]] of American humanities scholars."[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Derrida]

Critical obituaries of Derrida were published in The New York Times, The Economist, and The Independent. The magazine The Nation responded to the NYT obituary saying that "even though American papers had scorned and [[Trivia|trivialized]] Derrida before, the [[tone]] seemed particularly caustic for an obituary of an internationally acclaimed philosopher who had profoundly influenced two [[generations]] of American humanities scholars."[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacques_Derrida]

[[Category: Biography]]

[[Category: Biography]]