Logocentrism

[Lorentzen / Nicklaus]

 well, actually the term "logocentrism" is older than poststructuralism. it 
 was invented by the nietzschean philosopher ludwig klages (1872-1956), whose 
 magnum opus is "der geist als widersacher der seele" (3 volumes)[1929-32]. 

 kfl //:: ps: btw, "of course, derrida is very famous, but in case of emergency 
          one can also read heidegger himself." (odo marquard) 


s~Z schrieb:

> "According to French philosopher Jacques Derrida, this privileging of speech
> over writing in philosophy is called phonocentrism.
>     Phonocentrism is itself inextricably linked with logocentrism, which is
> "the orientation of philosophy toward an order of meaning - thought, truth,
> reason, logic, the Word - concieved as existing in itself, as foundation"
> (Culler 92).  In philosophy, these origins or foundations are characterized
> by presence, in that they exist of themselves, apart from anything else.
> They are themselves absolutely.  In attempting to define these kinds of
> absolutes, metaphysics has continually posited binary oppositions, such as
> nature/culture, man/woman, black/white, positive/negative.  In each case,
> the opposition is hierarchical, giving priority to the first term over the
> derivative or inferior second, as is the case of speech/writing.  However,
> Derrida questions the validity of such oppositions, as each term exists
> within a discourse, i.e. a system of differences.  No term can be understood
> without relating it to another.  Therefore, there can be no absolutes, as
> each term contains traces of others.  This is most clearly seen in the
> opposition between black and white.  In this opposition, black is only black
> in that it is not white.  However, since this is the defining characteristic
> of blackness, it will forever keep traces of white within it.  It cannot be
> understood without reference to white, which is no longer its opposite but
> its supplement, as it adds meaning to black.  As a result, there can be no
> "absolute" blackness.
>     Given that knowledge can only be communicated through language,
> Derrida's difficulty with metaphysics lies in its belief in the transparency
> of language, and in its faith in "pure" ideas.  For Derrida, the
> philosopher's relationship to language must present itself as part of the
> problem of knowledge.  One cannot describe language as a transparent tool
> for communicating "pure" ideas, for the ideas are inextricably linked to
> language.  One cannot "remove" the ideas from the means by which they are
> communicated."*
>
> *http://www.stfx.ca/people/mmoynagh/445/more-445/Concepts/logocentric.html
>