Jacques Derrida on Unconditional and Conditional Hospitality

This chapter discusses in detail the two forms that hospitality can take according to Derrida, namely, that which is offered without conditions or terms, which he calls ‘unconditional,’ and that which is offered to the guest ‘conditionally.’ The first form of hospitality he associates with the absolute ethical or ‘hyper-ethical’ law of hospitality and the second with the laws of hospitality. The law of hospitality demands unlimited and unconditional ‘openness’ to the coming other. In this sense, hospitality excludes dependence on any conditions and requires no invitation on the part of the host: the guest comes uninvited, while the host remains fully receptive to the stranger. Of course, complete ‘openness’ to anything external would probably amount to insanity. Whether consciously or unconsciously, we always choose those whom we allow to enter our home. Thus, Derrida argues for a ‘transaction’ or ‘negotiation’ between absolute, unconditional hospitality and the establishment of conditions that limit hospitality but at the same time protect it from the possibility of violence.