Logocentrism

[s~Z]

"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