Abstract

The text Violence and Metaphysics by Jacques Derrida —contained in the collection L’Écriture et la différence— can be read as the first great introduction to Levinas’ thought as well as the greatest criticism addressed to him during his lifetime, which forced Levinas to revise his thought. The point is therefore to note the central points of Derrida’s criticism, and then to show how the evolution of thought in Otherwise than Being in relation to Totality and Infinity constitutes Levinas’ response to Derrida and to argue why —in our opinion— Levinas was able to overcome Derrida’s criticism.