A concern in contemporary philosophy is the need or necessity of a new direction. Often this takes place through the "denigration of the tradition," via a critical reflection upon the presuppositions of the tradition and, at the same time, proposing new directions. This is often evident in French philosophy, especially in phenomenology and deconstruction, with its new pathways of embodiment and alterity.

A review of a book of embodiment by Jack Reynolds entitled ' Merleau-Ponty and Derrida: Intertwining Embodiment and Alterity.' It is a very critical review, and I'm in no position to judge it as I have not read this text. So I do not know how Reynolds judges phenomenology and deconstruction's success in critiquing the philosophical tradition and opening up new pathways.

The text is a reading of Merleau Ponty through Derrida; one that tries to move beyond the traditional phenomenologist vs post-structuralist schematic on the grounds that this might not be an adequate theoretical framework to get a grip on the more valuable contributions of both Merleau-Ponty and Derrida.