Dialectic of Nihilsm

This book fundamentally challenges the radical credentials of post-structuralism. Though Derrida, Foucault and Deleuze claim to have 'deconstructed' metaphysics, their work has much in common with previous attempts to 'end' the metaphysical tradition, from Kant to Nietzshe and Heidegger, and by sociology in general. Gillian Rose shows that this anti-metaphysical writing always appears in historically specific jurisprudential terms, which themselves found and recapitulate metaphysical categories. She reconsiders post-structuralism in this light and assesses the relationship between deconstruction and the earlier structuralism of Saussure and Levi-Strauss. She argues in conclusion that the choice between post-structuralist nihilism and Hegelian and Marxist dialectic is spurious.

Introduction: Legalism without law Part One: Natural law and repetition From metaphysics to jurisprudence Law and the categories Time or history? Self-perficient nihilism Natural law and repitition Part Two: Legalism and nihilism The new Bergsonism: Deleuze Structuralism and law: Saussure and Levi-Strauss Law and writing: Derrida Legalism and power: Foucault Conclusion: Dialectic of nihilism