Jacques Derrida on the Aporias of Hospitality

The book systematically presents Derrida's views on hospitality, as reflected in his texts and lectures from 1995 until his death in October 2004. Derrida's engagement with hospitality is perhaps the most important and extensive philosophical attempt to respond critically to the growing hostility of many governments worldwide towards specific categories of foreigners, such as refugees and immigrants. Particular emphasis is placed on the 'aporetic' nature of hospitality that Derrida describes: namely, that, on the one hand, the provision of hospitality brings us face to face with the hyper-ethical 'law' of 'unconditional hospitality,' which requires the unconditional reception of the other, i.e. the provision of hospitality to the foreigner without conditions, restrictions or expecting anything in return. On the other hand, the provision of hospitality forces us to face the 'conditional' laws of hospitality, which, while establishing a right to and a duty of hospitality, simultaneously restrict hospitality by setting conditions for the arrival and stay of the foreigner. The book also analyses the 'decision' and the 'event' of hospitality, as well as the unresolved 'aporia' at the heart of the ethics of hospitality (or of ethics in general), an aporia or contradiction related to the fact that we cannot be hospitable towards a singularity without 'sacrificing' some other singularities. Attention is paid to Derrida's attempt to open the provision of hospitality beyond humans, that is, to other living beings. Derrida's views on hospitality are examined in the book in the light of the philosophical thought of Emmanuel Levinas, Immanuel Kant and René Schérer.

Provides a comprehensible, systematic description and explanation of Derrida's views on hospitality Emphasizes the relevance of the Derridean view on hospitality with regard to the current burning issue of immigration Correlates this specific view with the thinking of other scholars (Kant, Levinas and Schérer)

Auteur

Gerasimos Kakoliris is Associate Professor in Contemporary Continental Philosophy at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece. His previous publications include Derrida's Deconstructive Double Reading: The Case of Rousseau (2022, open access).

Texte du rabat

The book systematically presents Derridäs views on hospitality, as reflected in his texts and lectures from 1995 until his death in October 2004. Derridäs engagement with hospitality is perhaps the most important and extensive philosophical attempt to respond critically to the growing hostility of many governments worldwide towards specific categories of foreigners, such as refugees and immigrants. Particular emphasis is placed on the aporetic nature of hospitality that Derrida describes: namely, that, on the one hand, the provision of hospitality brings us face to face with the hyper-ethical law of unconditional hospitality, which requires the unconditional reception of the other, i.e. the provision of hospitality to the foreigner without conditions, restrictions or expecting anything in return. On the other hand, the provision of hospitality forces us to face the conditional laws of hospitality, which, while establishing a right to and a duty of hospitality, simultaneously restrict hospitality by setting conditions for the arrival and stay of the foreigner. The book also analyses the decision and the event of hospitality, as well as the unresolved aporiä at the heart of the ethics of hospitality (or of ethics in general), an aporia or contradiction related to the fact that we cannot be hospitable towards a singularity without sacrificing some other singularities. Attention is paid to Derridäs attempt to open the provision of hospitality beyond humans, that is, to other living beings. Derridäs views on hospitality are examined in the book in the light of the philosophical thought of Emmanuel Levinas, Immanuel Kant and René Schérer.

Contenu

Chapter 1: Introduction.- Chapter 2: Jacques Derrida on Unconditional and Conditional Hospitality.- Chapter 3: Is Unconditional Hospitality a Regulative Idea of Reason?.- Chapter 4: The Hyper-Ethics of Hospitality.- Chapter 5: The Decision of Hospitality.- Chapter 6: The Event of Hospitality.- Chapter 7: Aporias of Responsibility: Sacrificing Others in The Name of The Other.- Chapter 8: The Necessary Contamination of The Unconditional Ethics of Hospitality By Its Other: Sacrificing The Other in The Name of Others.- Chapter 9: The Aporetic Relationship Between The Unconditional Ethics of Hospitality and Politics.- Chapter 10: Hospitality and Non-Human Beings.