The Beast and the Sovereign, Volume I (The Seminars of Jacques Derrida Book 1)

When he died in 2004, Jacques Derrida left behind a vast legacy of unpublished material, much of it in the form of written lectures. With __The Beast and the Sovereign, Volume 1__, the University of Chicago Press inaugurates an ambitious series, edited by Geoffrey Bennington and Peggy Kamuf, translating these important works into English. __The Beast and the Sovereign, Volume 1__ launches the series with Derrida’s exploration of the persistent association of bestiality or animality with sovereignty. In this seminar from 2001–2002, Derrida continues his deconstruction of the traditional determinations of the human. The beast and the sovereign are connected, he contends, because neither animals nor kings are subject to the law—the sovereign stands above it, while the beast falls outside the law from below. He then traces this association through an astonishing array of texts, including La Fontaine’s fable “The Wolf and the Lamb,” Hobbes’s biblical sea monster in __Leviathan__, D. H. Lawrence’s poem “Snake,” Machiavelli’s __Prince__ with its elaborate comparison of princes and foxes, a historical account of Louis XIV attending an elephant autopsy, and Rousseau’s evocation of werewolves in __The Social Contract__. Deleuze, Lacan, and Agamben also come into critical play as Derrida focuses in on questions of force, right, justice, and philosophical interpretations of the limits between man and animal. When He Died In 2004, Jacques Derrida Left Behind A Vast Legacy Of Unpublished Material, Much Of It In The Form Of Written Lectures. With The Beast And The Sovereign, Volume 1, The University Of Chicago Press Inaugurates An Ambitious Series, Edited By Geoffrey Bennington And Peggy Kamuf, Translating These Important Works Into English. The Beast And The Sovereign, Volume 1 Launches The Series With Derrida's Exploration Of The Persistent Association Of Bestiality Or Animality With Sovereignty. In This Seminar From 2001-2002, Derrida Continues His Deconstruction Of The Traditional Determinations Of The Human. The Beast And The Sovereign Are Connected, He Contends, Because Neither Animals Nor Kings Are Subject To The Law-the Sovereign Stands Above It, While The Beast Falls Outside The Law From Below. He Then Traces This Association Through An Astonishing Array Of Texts, Including La Fontaine's Fable The Wolf And The Lamb, Hobbes's Biblical Sea Monster In Leviathan, D.h. Lawrence's Poem Snake, Machiavelli's Prince With Its Elaborate Comparison Of Princes And Foxes, A Historical Account Of Louis Xiv Attending An Elephant Autopsy, And Rousseau's Evocation Of Werewolves In The Social Contract. Deleuze, Lacan, And Agamben Also Come Into Critical Play As Derrida Focuses In On Questions Of Force, Right, Justice, And Philosophical Interpretations Of The Limits Between Man And Animal. First Session: December 12, 2001 -- Second Session: December 19, 2001 -- Third Session: January 16, 2002 -- Fourth Session: January 23, 2002 -- Fifth Session: January 30, 2002 -- Sixth Session: February 6, 2002 -- Seventh Session: February 13, 2002 -- Eighth Session: February 20, 2002 -- Ninth Session: February 27, 2002 -- Tenth Session: March 6, 2002 -- Eleventh Session: March 13, 2002 -- Twelfth Session: March 20, 2002 -- Thirteenth Session: March 27, 2002. Jacques Derrida ; Edited By Michel Lisse, Marie-louise Mallet, And Ginette Michaud ; Translated By Geoffrey Bennington. Originally Published In French As 2 Volumes: Séminaire: La Bête Et Le Souverain. Paris : Galilée, C2008-c2010. Translated From The French. Includes Bibliographical References.

When he died in 2004, Jacques Derrida left behind a vast legacy of unpublished material, much of it in the form of written lectures. With The Beast and the Sovereign, Volume 1, the University of Chicago Press inaugurates an ambitious series, edited by Geoffrey Bennington and Peggy Kamuf, translating these important works into English.

The Beast and the Sovereign, Volume 1 launches the series with Derrida’s exploration of the persistent association of bestiality or animality with sovereignty. In this seminar from 2001–2002, Derrida continues his deconstruction of the traditional determinations of the human. The beast and the sovereign are connected, he contends, because neither animals nor kings are subject to the law—the sovereign stands above it, while the beast falls outside the law from below. He then traces this association through an astonishing array of texts, including La Fontaine’s fable “The Wolf and the Lamb,” Hobbes’s biblical sea monster in Leviathan, D. H. Lawrence’s poem “Snake,” Machiavelli’s Prince with its elaborate comparison of princes and foxes, a historical account of Louis XIV attending an elephant autopsy, and Rousseau’s evocation of werewolves in The Social Contract.

Deleuze, Lacan, and Agamben also come into critical play as Derrida focuses in on questions of force, right, justice, and philosophical interpretations of the limits between man and animal.

"When he died in 2004, Jacques Derrida left behind a vast legacy of unpublished material, much of it in the form of written lectures. With 'The Beast and the Sovereign, Volume 1', the University of Chicago Press inaugurates an ambitious series, edited by Geoffrey Bennington and Peggy Kamuf, translating these important works into English. 'The Beast and the Sovereign, Volume 1' launches the series with Derrida's exploration of the persistent association of bestiality or animality with sovereignty. In this seminar from 2001 and 2002, Derrida continues his deconstruction of the traditional determinations of the human. The beast and the sovereign are connected, he contends, because neither animals nor kings are subject to the law - the sovereign stands above it, while the beast falls outside the law from below. He then traces this association through an astonishing array of texts, including La Fontaine's fable 'The Wolf and the Lamb', Hobbes' biblical sea monster in Leviathan, D.H. Lawrence's poem 'Snake', Machiavelli's 'Prince' with its elaborate comparison of princes and foxes, a historical account of Louis XIV attending an elephant autopsy, and Rousseau's evocation of werewolves in 'The Social Contract'. Deleuze, Lacan, and Agamben also come into critical play as Derrida focuses in on questions of force, right, justice, and philosophical interpretations of the limits between man and animal" --Book jacket "When he died in 2004, Jacques Derrida left behind a vast legacy of unpublished material, much of it in the form of written lectures. With The Beast and the Sovereign, Volume I, the University of Chicago Press launches an ambitious series of English translations of these important works based upon the meticulously established original French editions." "In this seminar from 2001 and 2002, Derrida explores the persistent association of bestiality or animality with sovereignty and continues his deconstruction of the traditional determinations of the human. The beast and the sovereign are connected, he contends, because neither animals nor kings are subject to the law - the sovereign stands above it, while the beast falls outside the law from below. He then traces this association through an astonishing array of texts, including La Fontaine's fable "The Wolf and the Lamb," Hobbes's biblical sea monster in Leviathan, D. H. Lawrence's poem "Snake," Machiavelli's Prince with its elaborate comparison of princes and foxes, a historical account of Louis XIV attending an elephant autopsy, and Rousseau's evocation of werewolves in The Social Contract." "Deleuze, Lacan, and Agamben also come into critical play as Derrida focuses in on questions of force, right, justice, and philosophical interpretations of the limits between man and animal." --Book Jacket "Picking up where the previous volume left off, "Volume II" extends Derrida's exploration of the fascinating connections between animality and human sovereignty. In the second part of this seminar, originally presented in 2002-03, Derrida focuses on what at first appear to be two markedly different texts: Heidegger's "The Fundamental Concepts of Metaphysics" and Daniel Defoe's classic novel "Robinson Crusoe". Shuttling back and forth between the two works, Derrida investigates a number of key concepts and provides ingenious interpretations of both texts. Sovereignty remains his primary concern as he reflects on the political history of the dominion of humans over animals in Defoe's England and on diverse readings of "Robinson Crusoe" through the centuries and, in particular, from Heidegger's Germany in the 1930s. Solitude provides another connection between the two books as Derrida links the indivisible uniqueness of a king with Crusoe's solitary plight. Both consolidating and broadening Derrida's deconstructive critique of sovereignty, "The Beast and the Sovereign, Volume II" is a rich repast, offering everything from striking insights into Heidegger's use of language to surprising digressions that reveal the contours of a lively intellect deeply engaged with the world" --Publisher Contents Foreword to the English Edition General Introduction to the French Edition Editorial Note First Session: December 12, 2001 Second Session: December 19, 2001 Third Session: January 16, 2002 Fourth Session: January 23, 2002 Fifth Session: January 30, 2002 Sixth Session: February 6, 2002 Seventh Session: February 13, 2002 Eighth Session: February 20, 2002 Ninth Session: February 27, 2002 Tenth Session: March 6, 2002 Eleventh Session: March 13, 2002 Twelfth Session: March 20, 2002 Thirteenth Session: March 27, 2002