Prejudiced

Prejudices

Book Summary

Jacques Derrida, one of the most influential figures in contemporary thought, offers in Prejudices a profound reflection on the paradoxical nature of access to the law. Drawing from Kafka’s celebrated story "Before the Law," the philosopher unravels how the law of truth and ethical and political correctness presents itself as both open and forbidden. This short but intense essay invites the reader to question the very foundations of judgment, justice, and decision, exploring the tension between the universality of the norm and the singularity of the concrete case.

What is it about?

Starting from the Kafkian parable, Derrida analyzes the condition of "being before the law," a state that implies both the possibility of access and its perpetual postponement. The book examines how this paradoxical structure applies not only to positive law but also to the pursuit of truth and the demands of ethics and politics. Derrida questions the notion of a pure judgment or a fully just decision, suggesting that every decision carries with it a moment of "prejudice" or undecidability that precedes and constitutes it. The work traverses the boundaries between philosophy, legal theory, and literary criticism, offering an original reading on responsibility, hospitality, and the subject's relationship with the norm.

Main themes

• The paradox of access to law and justice in the work of Franz Kafka.
• The relationship between law, truth, and ethical-political decision.
• The critique of the notion of pure judgment and the inevitability of "prejudice."
• The deconstruction of the foundations of law and justice.
• The tension between the universality of the norm and the singularity of the case.

Who is it recommended for?

This book is aimed at students and professionals of philosophy, legal theory, political science, and literary criticism. It will also be of great interest to readers with a background in post-structuralist thought or deconstruction, as well as those seeking a rigorous and original reflection on the foundations of justice and ethics in Derrida's work.

What this book contributes

• An original and profound reading of one of Kafka’s most emblematic texts from a deconstructivist perspective.
• Conceptual tools to rethink the relationship between law, justice, and decision in the ethical and political spheres.
• A more nuanced understanding of the notion of "prejudice" as an inevitable condition of all judgment.
• A brief but intense reflection that condenses key ideas of Derridean thought on justice.

Technical specifications

• Author: Jacques Derrida
• Publisher: Avarigani Editores S A
• Language: Spanish
• Subject: Humanities, Philosophy, Religion and beliefs, Law, General theory of law, International law, Special jurisdiction laws, Law: study and revision guides
• Collection: Philosophy
• Binding: Paperback
• Publication date: October 2011
• Number of pages: 100
• Weight: 152 g

Editorial review

This work offers a privileged entry into Derrida’s thought regarding justice and the law, condensing into a few pages some of his most complex and suggestive ideas. Its value lies in the ability to articulate rigorous philosophical analysis with literary and political sensitivity, making it an essential read for those who wish to delve into the relationship between deconstruction, law, and ethics. It is a demanding yet rewarding text that invites constant re-reading.