Logocentrism

Definition

Logocentrism is the philosophical belief that privileges the spoken word or 'logos' as the primary source of meaning and truth, often at the expense of written language or other forms of communication. It is a central concept in postmodern theory that challenges the notion of language as a neutral, transparent medium for conveying meaning.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Logocentrism is a key concept in postmodern philosophy, which challenges the modernist belief in universal truths and the stability of language.
2. Derrida's theory of deconstruction directly critiques logocentrism by highlighting the inherent ambiguity and instability of language.
3. Postmodern thinkers argue that logocentrism is a Western, Eurocentric bias that marginalizes other forms of communication and knowledge production.
4. Logocentrism is closely linked to phonocentrism, the preference for speech over writing, which is seen as a manifestation of the privileging of the spoken word.
5. Poststructuralist and postmodern theories, such as those of Derrida and Foucault, have been influential in challenging and deconstructing logocentrism.

Review Questions

• Explain how the concept of logocentrism relates to postmodern theory and its critique of modernist beliefs.
  • Logocentrism is a central target of postmodern theory, which challenges the modernist belief in universal truths and the stability of language. Postmodern thinkers argue that logocentrism is a Western, Eurocentric bias that privileges the spoken word or 'logos' as the primary source of meaning and truth, often at the expense of written language or other forms of communication. Derrida's theory of deconstruction, for example, directly critiques logocentrism by highlighting the inherent ambiguity and instability of language, undermining the notion of language as a neutral, transparent medium for conveying meaning.
• Describe the relationship between logocentrism and phonocentrism, and explain how this relationship is challenged by postmodern theories.
  • Logocentrism is closely linked to phonocentrism, the preference for speech over writing, which is seen as a manifestation of the privileging of the spoken word. Postmodern thinkers argue that this privileging of the spoken word over the written word is a Western, Eurocentric bias that marginalizes other forms of communication and knowledge production. Derrida's theory of deconstruction, for instance, challenges the notion of speech as a more authentic or immediate form of communication, highlighting the ways in which both speech and writing are inherently unstable and ambiguous. By deconstructing the relationship between logocentrism and phonocentrism, postmodern theories seek to open up new ways of understanding language and meaning.
• Analyze the influence of poststructuralist and postmodern theories, such as those of Derrida and Foucault, in challenging and deconstructing the concept of logocentrism.
  • Poststructuralist and postmodern theories have been highly influential in challenging and deconstructing the concept of logocentrism. Thinkers like Derrida and Foucault have developed critical approaches that directly target the Western, Eurocentric bias inherent in logocentrism. Derrida's theory of deconstruction, for example, examines the inherent instability and ambiguity of language, undermining the notion of the spoken word as a transparent, authoritative source of meaning. Foucault's work on the relationship between power, knowledge, and discourse has also been instrumental in exposing the ways in which logocentrism has been used to marginalize and suppress alternative forms of communication and knowledge production. By challenging the privileged status of the spoken word, these postmodern theories have opened up new ways of understanding the complexities and multiplicities of language and meaning.

Related terms

Deconstruction: A critical approach developed by Jacques Derrida that challenges logocentrism by examining the inherent instability and ambiguity of language and meaning.

Structuralism: A theoretical framework that analyzes the underlying structures and systems that shape language, culture, and human experience, often in opposition to logocentrism.

Phonocentrism: The preference for speech over writing, which is seen as a manifestation of logocentrism's privileging of the spoken word.