Understanding Poststructuralism

Understanding Movements in Modern Thought

by James Williams

Understanding Poststructuralism presents a lucid guide to some of the most exciting and controversial ideas in contemporary thought. This is the first introduction to poststructuralism through its major theorists - Derrida, Deleuze, Foucault, Lyotard, Kristeva - and their central texts. Each chapter takes the reader through a key text, providing detailed summaries of the main points of each and a critical and detailed analysis of their central arguments. Ideas are clearly explained in terms of their value to both critical thinking and to contemporary issues. Criticisms of poststructuralism are also assessed. The aim throughout is to illuminate the main methods of poststructuralism - deconstruction, libidinal economics, genealogy and transcendental empiricism - in context. A balanced and up-to-date assessment of poststructuralism, the book presents the ideal introduction to this most revolutionary of philosophies.

Genres: Philosophy

192 pages, Paperback

First published October 24, 2005

Reviews

[Christine Cordula Dantas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book clarified several issues and (possibly) misunderstandings I had on writers such as Derrida, Deleuze and Foucault, and offered an introduction to Lyotard and Kristeva, whose books I have never read. It written for undergraduate students as the target audience, but general readers will benefit greatly from the book. The positive aspects of poststructuralism, as for instance concerning Enlightenment— not being against rational thought, in favor of obscurantism, but actually offering new and careful views, criticisms and creative connections perhaps beyond rationalism, is some of such clarifications from the present book (or at least a defense/interpretation by the author). Certainly, my reading of those authors will be made a little bit more interesting and contextualized, even though I might not agree with their views or grasp their intentions, but perhaps that is the way it should be... Highly recommended.

[Mike]

Interesting exposure to the thinkers and material covered, but probably best for a reader who has already read some of the works in question or at least been introduced to the terminology. As it is, it all feels rather fuzzy and abstract to me, and it's hard to tell to what extent this is a reflection of the concepts themselves vs. my own failure to understand essential points. (And I read it in discussion with a group!)