Of Hospitality – Jacques Derrida – 2000, Janet Mott Calderwood (translator)
Of Hospitality: Jacques Derrida
Jacques Derrida’s Of Hospitality examines the often-unacknowledged complexities inherent in the act of welcoming the other. The work is not a practical guide to being hospitable, but rather a rigorous philosophical deconstruction of the concept itself, its ethical implications, and its historical roots. Derrida distinguishes between hospitality – an unconditional welcoming of the other – and the laws of hospitality, which inevitably impose conditions and limitations. He argues that true hospitality is paradoxical, requiring a suspension of the possessive logic that defines our relationship to space and property.
Historical / Cultural Context
Published in 2000, Of Hospitality emerged from a lecture Derrida gave in 1997 at a conference on the theme of welcoming. The late 20th and early 21st centuries were, and remain, a period marked by increased migration, displacement, and anxieties surrounding national identity and border control. Derrida’s work responds to these concerns, probing the ethical responsibilities of host nations and individuals in a world increasingly defined by movement and difference. The book builds upon, and challenges, traditional philosophical treatments of hospitality found in thinkers like Kant and Levinas. It also implicitly engages with contemporary political debates surrounding immigration and asylum. Derrida frequently references the Greek concept of xenia – the ancient Greek code of hospitality – to illustrate the historical and cultural roots of the ethical obligations involved in welcoming strangers. He contrasts this ancient tradition with modern, often legalistic, approaches to hospitality.
Who This Book Is For
This work is primarily intended for readers with an interest in philosophy, particularly those familiar with Derrida’s deconstructionist approach. However, its themes resonate with anyone concerned with ethics, political theory, and the challenges of intercultural understanding. The book’s density and abstract nature require a willingness to engage with complex philosophical arguments, making it more suitable for academic study or readers with a strong background in philosophical thought. Those interested in the ethical and psychological dimensions of encounters with “the other” will also find it a valuable, if demanding, read.
Further Reading
- Immanuel Kant, Perpetual Peace: A Philosophical Sketch: Kant’s work explores the conditions for lasting peace, including the principle of hospitality as a right of way.
- Emmanuel Levinas, Totality and Infinity: Levinas’s philosophy of the Other provides a crucial ethical foundation for Derrida’s exploration of hospitality.
- Veena Das, Strange Constellations: A History of Australian Anthropology: Offers a different cultural lens into practices of welcome and exclusion.
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