Jacques Derrida

Article abstract: Derrida is the author and principal exponent of grammatology, a writing-centered theory of language and of the associated critical practice known as deconstruction. As one of the leading figures in poststructuralism and postmodernism, he has argued forcefully against philosophical, scientific, and religious efforts to institutionalize some preferred system of meanings as “truth.”

Early Life

Jacques Derrida was born in El Biar, Algeria, on July 15, 1930, of “assimilated” Sephardic Jewish parents. One of his earliest and most...

[The entire page is 2534 words long]

Join eNotes

The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the: