Derrida, Badiou and the Formal Imperative

Description

In this path-breaking study Christopher Norris proposes a transformed understanding of the much-exaggerated differences between analytic and continental philosophy. While keeping the analytic tradition squarely in view his book focuses on the work of Jacques Derrida and Alain Badiou, two of the most original and significant figures in the recent history of ideas. Norris argues that these thinkers have decisively reconfigured the terrain of contemporary philosophy and, between them, pointed a way beyond some of those seemingly intractable issues that have polarised debate on both sides of the notional rift between the analytic and continental traditions. In particular his book sets out to show - against the received analytic wisdom - that continental philosophy has its own analytic resources and is capable of bringing some much-needed fresh insight to bear on problems in philosophy of language, logic and mathematics. Norris provides not only a unique comparative account of Derrida's and Badiou's work but also a remarkably wide-ranging assessment of their joint contribution to philosophy's current - if widely resisted - potential for self-transformation.

Christopher Norris is Distinguished Research Professor in Philosophy at the University of Cardiff, Wales, UK.

'ChristopherNorris crosses the 'dividing line' between the analytic and the continentaltradition in philosophy with ingenuity, insightfulness and flair. Understandingthe strengths and the limitations of both traditions, he promotes aphilosophical culture of communication and mutual influence. Where others findgaps and chasms, Norris builds bridges and looks for a synthesis of the variousperspectives on philosophical problems. His firm realist stance makes it clearthat aiming for rapprochement does not imply philosophical neutrality orindifference. In Derrida, Badiou and the Formal Imperative, Norris offers a comparative studyof the work of Jacques Derrida and Alain Badiou, two very influential thinkersinside and outside the academia, and articulates the rich idea of a 'formalimperative' permeating their thought. Unearthing their concern (more obviouslyfor Badiou, less so for Derrida) with aspects of the formal-logical structuresof language and their relations to the world, Norris offers a novel and livelynarrative which re-examines and re-positions the philosophical ouvre ofthe two French philosophers. This book masterfully shows that good philosophytranscends dividing lines and can bring together high standards ofargumentative rigour, historical sensitivity, and speculative exploration ofthe conceptual space.' -- Stathis Psillos, Professor of Philosophy of Science and Metaphysics at the Department of Philosophy and History of Science, University of Athens, Greece 'There is no other current work that so persuasivelydemonstrates that the way out of the current impasses of philosophy and towardsa more open-minded and communicative philosophic culture is to overcome theassumption that the analytical and the creative are axiomatically at odds witheach other. The book is a major contribution in the overcoming of the stillpervasive 'two cultures' mentality.' -- Patricia Waugh, Professor in the Department of English Studies, Durham University, UK