Dissemination

Description

First published in 1972, Dissemination contains three of Derrida's most central and seminal works: 'Plato's Pharmacy', 'The Double Session' and 'Dissemination'. The essays present a re-evaluation of the logic of meaning and the function of writing in Western discourse and explore the relationship and interplay between language, literature and philosophy. The text includes a substantial introduction and additional notes on the text by Barbara Johnson.

Jacques Derrida (1930-2004) is one of the best known 20th century philosophers and is regarded as the founder of the Deconstruction movement. His work continues to be hugely influential across the humanities and social sciences and his impact on philosophy and literary criticism is unparalleled. He is author of Of Grammatology (1967), Positions (1972) and Writing and Difference (1967) among many others.

The English version of Dissemination [is] an able translation by Barbara Johnson . . . . Derrida's central contention is that language is haunted by dispersal, absence, loss, the risk of unmeaning, a risk which is starkly embodied in all writing. The distinction between philosophy and literature therefore becomes of secondary importance. Philosophy vainly attempts to control the irrecoverable dissemination of its own meaning, it strives-against the grain of language-to offer a sober revelation of truth. Literature-on the other hand-flaunts its own meretriciousness, abandons itself to the Dionysiac play of language. In Dissemination-more than any previous work-Derrida joins in the revelry, weaving a complex pattern of puns, verbal echoes and allusions, intended to 'deconstruct' both the pretension of criticism to tell the truth about literature, and the pretension of philosophy to the literature of truth. * Peter Dews, New Statesman *