Deconstruction and the "Unfinished Project of Modernity"

Through a close engagement with some key thinkers, Norris argues that deconstruction is part of the "unfinished project of modernity." a project whose interest and values it upholds by continuing to question them in a spirit of enlightened self-critical inquiry.

Deconstruction has been widely and detrimentally misunderstood. In this provocative new book, Christopher Norris challenges the prevalent idea that deconstruction is merely a more specialized offshoot of postmodernism. Through a close engagement with some key thinkers-among them Derrida, Foucault, de Man, Habermas, Lyotard and Levinas--Norris argues that deconstruction is part of the "unfinished project of modernity"--a project whose interests and values deconstruction upholds by continuing to question them in a spirit of enlightened self-critical inquiry. Assessing the impact of postmodernist thought across a range of disciplines, the book presents a lucid analysis and guide to the problems and prospects of critical theory.

Christopher Norris is Distinguished Research Professor in Philosophy at the University of Cardiff. His many publications include Deconstruction: Theory and Practice (Routledge 1991), Jacques Derrida, The Truth About Postmodernism, New Idols of the Cave, Resources of Realism, Against Relativism, and Quantum Theory and the Flight from Realism, (Routledge 2000).