Christopher Norris crosses the 'dividing line' between the analytic and the continental tradition in philosophy with ingenuity, insightfulness and flair. Understanding the strengths and the limitations of both traditions, he promotes a philosophical culture of communication and mutual influence. Where others find gaps and chasms, Norris builds bridges and looks for a synthesis of the various perspectives on philosophical problems. His firm realist stance makes it clear that aiming for rapprochement does not imply philosophical neutrality or indifference. In Derrida, Badiou and the Formal Imperative, Norris offers a comparative study of the work of Jacques Derrida and Alain Badiou, two very influential thinkers inside and outside the academia, and articulates the rich idea of a 'formal imperative' permeating their thought. Unearthing their concern (more obviously for Badiou, less so for Derrida) with aspects of the formal-logical structures of language and their relations to the world, Norris offers a novel and lively narrative which re-examines and re-positions the philosophical ouvre of the two French philosophers. This book masterfully shows that good philosophy transcends dividing lines and can bring together high standards of argumentative rigour, historical sensitivity, and speculative exploration of the conceptual space.

Stathis Psillos, Professor of Philosophy of Science and Metaphysics at the Department of Philosophy and History of Science, University of Athens, Greece

There is no other current work that so persuasively demonstrates that the way out of the current impasses of philosophy and towards a more open-minded and communicative philosophic culture is to overcome the assumption that the analytical and the creative are axiomatically at odds with each other. The book is a major contribution in the overcoming of the still pervasive 'two cultures' mentality.

Patricia Waugh, Professor in the Department of English Studies, Durham University, UK