Voice and Phenomenon

Published in 1967, when Derrida is 37 years old, Voice and Phenomenon appears at the same moment as Of Grammatology and Writing and Difference. All three books announce the new philosophical project called deconstruction. Although Derrida will later regret the fate of the term deconstruction, he will use it throughout his career to define his own thinking. While Writing and Difference collects essays written over a 10 year period on diverse figures and topics, and Of Grammatology aims its deconstruction at the age of Rousseau, Voice and Phenomenon shows deconstruction engaged with the most important philosophical movement of the last hundred years: phenomenology. Only in relation to phenomenology is it possible to measure the importance of deconstruction. Only in relation to Husserls philosophy is it possible to understand the novelty of Derridas thinking. Voice and Phenomenon therefore may be the best introduction to Derridas thought in general. To adapt Derridas comment on Husserls Logical Investigations, it contains the germinal structure of Derridas entire thought. Lawlors fresh translation of Voice and Phenomenon brings new life to Derridas most seminal work.