Starting with Derrida

How does one start with Derrida? In this exciting and accessible book, Sean Gaston presents a new kind of introduction to Jacques Derrida, arguably the most important and influential European thinker of the last century. Derrida claimed that However old I am, I am on the threshold of reading Plato and Aristotle ... we need to read them again and again and again. In Starting with Derrida, Gaston introduces all Derridas major works and ideas by tracing Derridas reading (and re-reading) of Plato, Aristotle and Hegel throughout his writings. Starting with Derrida argues for the importance of the relationship between philosophy, literature and history in Derridas work and addresses all the key concepts in Derridas thought, including his work on time and space, being and the soul, sensation and thought, history and literature, the concept and the name. The book encourages the reader to enter Derridas varied and complex legacy through the moments in Derridas work that are concerned with the question of origins and beginnings. By actively engaging with Derridas ideas in this way, Gaston reveals a new and highly original reading of Derridas work and provides a useful introduction to his entire corpus. This exciting new book is essential reading for students of philosophy and literary theory and, indeed, anyone interested in the work of this hugely important thinker.