Appositions of Jacques Derrida and Emmanuel Levinas

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Indiana University Press, 2002 - 255 pages
If not simple opposition or simple juxtaposition, what is the relation between the writings to which Derrida and Levinas appose their signatures? What would each endorse in the writings of the other? What is it to sign and endorse? How does one assume responsibility, and how does one avoid assuming it? These are some of the probing questions that the prominent Continental philosopher John Llewelyn takes up in Appositions, which brings together and synthesises fifteen essays written during the past twenty years. Drawing out the metaphor of the Greek letter chi, or "x," Llewelyn apposes the discussions of the two philosophers, applying their thought to one another. In considering the work of Derrida and Levinas from the points of view of philosophy, linguistics, logic, and theology, Llewelyn invokes a diverse array of philosophers, theologians, and literary figures, including Austin, Defoe, Hegel, Heidegger, Jankelevitch, Kant, Mallarme, Plato, Ponge, Ramsey, Rosenzweig, Russell, Saussure, and Valery. This book by a powerfully original thinker and first-rate interpreter is essential reading for all those interested in the writings of Derrida and Levinas and in the ways in which their thinking intersects.
 

Contents

LEVINAS DERRIDA AND OTHERS VISÀVIS
1
RESPONSIBILITY WITH INDECIDABILITY
17
DERRIDA MALLARMÉ AND ANATOLE
39
THE ORIGIN AND END OF PHILOSOPHY
51
IN THE NAME OF PHILOSOPHY
66
WHAT IS ORIENTATION IN THINKING? FACING THE FACTS
80
AMEN
94
THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF LEVINASS DEATH
105
JEWGREEK OR GREEKJEW
143
AT THIS VERY MOMENT A REPETITION THAT IS NOT ONE
156
LEVINAS AND LANGUAGE
164
THRESHOLDS
179
SEMIOETHICS
190
NO HAPPY ENDING
209
NOTES
231
INDEX
249

THE POSSIBILITY OF HEIDEGGERS DEATH
118
SELECTION
130

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