Table of Contents

Acknowledgements Abbreviations 1. Introduction: what is poststructuralism? 2. Poststructuralism as deconstruction: Jacques Derrida's Of Grammatology 3. Poststructuralism as philosophy as difference: Gilles Deleuze's Difference and Repetition 4. Poststructuralism as philosophy of the event: Lyotard's Discours, figure 5. Poststructuralism, history, genealogy: Michel Foucault's The Archaeology of Knowledge 6. Poststructuralism, psychoanalysis, linguistics: Julia Kristeva's Revolution in Poetic Language 7. Poststructuralism into the future Questions for discussion and revision Further reading Publications timeline Index

About the Author

James Williams is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Dundee.

Reviews

"Williams has produced one of the most thoughtful and lucid accounts of poststructuralism available in English. Understanding Poststructuralism is both an indispensable introduction to one of the most influential philosophical movements of recent decades, and a significant critical and intellectual achievement in its own right." - French Studies "An imaginative and bold account of one of the most influential intellectual movements of the late twentieth century. It seeks to rebut widespread misconceptions and respond to legitimate objections to poststructuralist positions, all in remarkably jargon-free prose. It will be a valuable resource for students throughout the humanities and social sciences." - Paul Patton, University of New South Wales "With this book, Williams establishes himself as one of the foremost English-language interpreters of French thought. It not only provides accessible analyses of key figures but also presents a judicious evaluation of the poststructuralist movement as a whole." - Daniel W. Smith, Purdue University