Appositions of Jacques Derrida and Emmanuel Levinas

If not simple opposition or simple juxtaposition, what is the relation between the writings to which Derrida and Levinas appose their signatures? What would each endorse in the writings of the other? What is it to sign and endorse? How does one assume responsibility, and how does one avoid assuming it? These are some of the probing questions that continental philosopher John Llewelyn takes up in this analysis, which brings together and synthesizes 15 essays written over a 20-year period. Drawing out the metaphor of the Greek letter chi, or "x", Llewelyn apposes the discussions of the two philosophers, applying their thought to one another. In considering the work of Derrida and Levinas from the points of view of philosophy, linguistics, logic and theology, Llewelyn invokes a diverse array of philosophers, theologians and literary figures, including Austin, Defoe, Hegel, Heidegger, Jankelevitch, Kant, Mallarme, Plato, Ponge, Ramsey, Rosenzweig, Russell, Saussure and Valery. Contents: Introduction - Levinas, Derrida and others vis-a-vis; responsibility with indecidability; Derrida, Mallarme and Anatole; the origin and end of philosophy; in the name of philosophy; what is orientation in thinking? Facing the facts; amen; the impossibility of Levinas´s death; the possibility of Heidegger´s death; selection; Jewgreek or Greekjew; at this very moment - a repetition that is not one; Levinas and language; thresholds; semioethics; no happy ending.