The Gift of Death, Jacques Derridas most sustained consideration of religion, explores questions first introduced in his book Given Time about the limits of the rational and responsible that one reaches in granting or accepting death, whether by sacrifice, murder, execution, or suicide. Derrida analyzes Czech philosopher Jan Patockas Heretical Essays in the Philosophy of History and develops and compares his ideas to the works of Heidegger, Lvinas, and Kierkegaard. One of Derridas major works, The Gift of Death resonates with much of his earlier writing, and this highly anticipated second edition is greatly enhanced by David Willss updated translation.
This new edition also features the first-ever English translation of DerridasLiterature in Secret. In it, Derrida continues his discussion of the sacrifice of Isaac, which leads to bracing meditations on secrecy, forgiveness, literature, and democracy. He also offers a reading of Kafkas Letter to His Father and uses the story of the flood in Genesisas anembarkation pointfor a consideration of divine sovereignty.
An important contribution to the critical study of ethics that commends itself to philosophers, social scientists, scholars of religion . . . [and those] made curious by the controversy that so often attends Derrida.Booklist, on the first edition
