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Philosophy General

The Event of the Thing

Derrida's Post-Deconstructive Realism

by (author) Michael Marder

Publisher
University of Toronto Press
Initial publish date
Apr 2011
Category
General, History & Theory, General
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781442612655
    Publish Date
    Apr 2011
    List Price
    $39.95
  • Hardback

    ISBN
    9780802098924
    Publish Date
    Jan 2009
    List Price
    $56.00
  • eBook

    ISBN
    9781442693128
    Publish Date
    Apr 2011
    List Price
    $29.95

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Description

Jacques Derrida's writings often embed the key themes of deconstruction in a notion of the thing. The Event of the Thing is the most complete examination to date of Derrida's understanding of thinghood and its crucial role in psychoanalysis, ethics, literary theory, aesthetics, and Marxism.

Arguing that the thing, as a figure of otherness, destabilizes the metaphysical edifice it underlies, Michael Marder reveals the contributions it makes to critiques of humanism and idealism. Subsequently, the new realism that emerges from deconstruction holds the possibility of an event that problematizes all attempts to objectify the thing. An illuminating analysis of Derrida and phenomenology, The Event of the Thing is an innovative and compelling study of a crucial aspect of one of the twentieth century's greatest thinkers.

About the author

Michael Marder is a post-doctoral fellow in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Toronto.

Michael Marder's profile page

Editorial Reviews

The Event of the Thing by Michael Marder is probably one of the most comprehensive and integrative readings of Derrida’s oeuvre to date … Marder’s confident and elegant prose reveals an original style, distinctly different from Derrida’s and yet just as carefully performative and rhythmic.’

Roy Ben-Shai <em>Telos</em>