脱構築の提唱者として知られるフランスの哲学者、ジャック・デリダ（1930-2004年）が取り組んだ形而上学の歴史をはじめ、法と正義に対する見解、倫理、政治などをテーマとした思想を紹介します。信頼のおけないポストモダニスト、ニヒリストといった批判も少なくないデリダですが、それまで疑う余地がないとされていたことに疑問を呈したこと、そのヨーロッパに対する、また哲学の枠組みを超えた影響の大きさははかりしれません。そんなデリダの神髄に触れる一冊です。
   

• Explores Derrida's main books and essays and considers his central themes to provide a comprehensive picture of his work
• Explains the theory of deconstruction and refutes the claims that it is negative and destructive
• Defends Derrida against some of the attacks from the analytical philosophical community whilst explaining why it is that his work inspires such passionate criticism
• Seeks to give the newcomer a sense of Derrida's challenge to the philosophical tradition, combined with some understanding of the range of reactions that challenge has provoked

  
Jacques Derrida, the French philosopher, developed his critical technique known as 'deconstruction'. His work is associated with ideas surrounding both post-structuralism and post-modern philosophy, and he was known to have challenged some of the unquestioned assumptions of our philosophical tradition. 

In this Very Short Introduction, Simon Glendinning explores both the difficulty and significance of the work of Derrida. He presents Derrida's challenging ideas as making a significant contribution to, and providing a powerful reading of, our philosophical heritage. Defending Derrida against many of the charges that were placed against him, he attempts to show why Derrrida's work causes such extreme reactions. 

Glendinning explains Derrida's distinctive mode of engagement with our philosophical tradition, and shows that this is not a merely negative thing. By exploring his most famous and influential texts, Glendinning shows how and why Derrida's work of deconstruction is inspired not by a 'critical frenzy', but by a loving respect for philosophy.
  
  
Reading Guide
In this Very Short Introduction, Simon Glendinning explores both the difficulty and significance of the work of Derrida. He presents Derrida's challenging ideas as making a significant contribution to, and providing a powerful reading of, our philosophical heritage. Defending Derrida against many of the charges that were placed against him, he attempts to show why Derrrida's work causes such extreme reactions.