Jacques Derrida

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Jacques Derrida (15 July 1930 – 9 October 2004) was a French philosopher best known for developing a form of semiotic analysis known as deconstruction. He is one of the major figures associated with post-structuralism and postmodern philosophy.

Early Life and Education

Derrida was born in El Biar, Algeria, then a part of French Algeria. He was the third of five children in a Sephardic Jewish family. Derrida's early education was disrupted by the Vichy regime's anti-Semitic laws, which led to his expulsion from school. He later attended the École Normale Supérieure in Paris, where he studied under prominent philosophers such as Michel Foucault and Louis Althusser.

Career and Major Works

Derrida's career was marked by his extensive writings and lectures on a wide range of topics. His first major work, Of Grammatology (1967), introduced the concept of deconstruction, which he used to critique the relationship between text and meaning. Other significant works include Writing and Difference (1967) and Margins of Philosophy (1972).

Deconstruction

Deconstruction is a critical approach that seeks to uncover the assumptions and contradictions underlying texts. Derrida argued that texts are inherently unstable and that meaning is always deferred, a concept he termed différance. This approach has been influential in various fields, including literary theory, linguistics, philosophy, and cultural studies.

Later Works and Influence

In his later years, Derrida continued to explore themes such as ethics, politics, and religion. His work has had a profound impact on contemporary thought, influencing scholars in disciplines ranging from law to architecture.

Personal Life

Derrida was married to Marguerite Aucouturier, with whom he had two sons. He spent much of his career teaching at institutions such as the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales and the University of California, Irvine.

Death

Jacques Derrida passed away on 9 October 2004 in Paris, France, from pancreatic cancer.

Related Pages

• Deconstruction
• Post-structuralism
• Postmodern philosophy
• Michel Foucault
• Louis Althusser
• École Normale Supérieure
• Of Grammatology
• Writing and Difference
• Margins of Philosophy