preview

Biography of Jacques Derrida

Decent Essays

INTRODUCTION Distancing himself from those who came before him on the French intellectual scene, Jacques Derrida became one of the most well-known 20th century philosophers. His unique approach and differing ideology from his predecessors aided in his rise as an icon of modern political theory. (Encyclopedia) Derrida’s works have influenced and inspired innovative practices of numerous disciplines including art, literature, religious studies, linguistics, and of course philosophy. (Peteers) In fact much of Derrida’s work refers to the idea of purity in the domains of genetics, public policy, philosophy, and religion. (Deutscher, 2) Derrida has taken Marxism and other well-read philosophies and broken them down as an attempt to reinterpret the meaning and importance of text. This paper will give deep insight into the historical context of Derrida’s life and studies. It will analyze his philosophies, and gauge his reception among his peers as well as the general public while grasping the legacy his work has continued to leave behind. Deridda was a prolific philosopher notorious for his esoteric works that broke down concepts the western world had spent centuries building, who has impacted all aspects of the future of political theory.

BACKGROUND Jacques Derrida was born on July 15, 1930 into a Sephardic Jewish family in El-Biar, Algeria, which at the time was a French Colony. Derrida was the third of five children. His older brother Paul Moise died at less than three

Get Access