Difference at the Origin (Hardcover)  | Released: 2008

Heideggers way of thinking has left a rich legacy for post-modern philosophers, particularly for Jacques Derrida who has greatly influenced philosophy and literature in the modern times. Derrida, like his mentor Heidegger, understands that in the Western philosophy, the meaning of Being has been determined by metaphysics of presence. However, unlike Heidegger, Derrida does not begin his philosophical career with a question on Being. Nor does he take up philosophical positionstraditional or otherwise. The purpose of the present study is the critical evaluation of Derridas claim that he deconstructed one of Heideggers most important essaysThe Origin of the Work of Artby which he tries to overcome the metaphysics of presence. The book presents an in-depth analysis of Heideggers question of the meaning of Being, and Derridas critique of Western logocentrism and his philosophy of deconstruction. It delves into the origin of the truth of the work of artstudying the essence of thing, equipment and work of art, as philosophised by Heidegger. It discusses truth as the strife, taking originary strife as the essence of the meaning of Being. It also includes Derridas criticism of the restitution of the truth of the work of art, and an evaluation of the differential structure of the truth of the paintingas a work of art. A comparative study of the philosophies of Heidegger and Derrida has been given under non-originary origin of truth and difference as the origin. References have been given at the end of each chapter to facilitate easy understanding of the concepts discussed in the text. Besides, there is a comprehensive Bibliography giving primary as well as secondary sources from which the book has drawn. The book shall be highly useful to the students and teachers of Philosophy, Theology, Metaphysics and the researchers in these fields.Table of Contents: Introduction; 1. In Pursuit of Being: Heidegger and Derrida; 2. The origin of the Truth of the Work of Art: Heidegger; 3. Derridas Critique of Heideggers Philosophy of the Work of Art; 4. The Non-Originary Origin of Truth: Heidegger and Derrida; Zusammenfassung; Bibliography