Derrida's Critique of Logocentrism: The Deconstruction of the World

Derrida's Critique of Logocentrism: The Deconstruction of the World

Language, as the carrier of culture’s ideologies, forms the foundation of our perception and self-conception. For Derrida, language is our “ground of being,” the basis from which our experiences and knowledge of the world are constructed. However, deconstruction views language as an unstable foundation, unlike the stable principles in traditional Western philosophies. Western Philosophy and Logocentrism Derrida’s critique of logocentrism examines the limitations of linguistic systems that prioritize speech over writing and assume a direct, stable connection between language and meaning. He argues that traditional linguistics fails to be "general" as it remains bound by rigid distinctions—between inside and outside, essence and fact—which prevent a complete understanding of language's structure. For Derrida, writing isn't merely a secondary "image" or representation of speech; rather, it challenges the very notion of a pure linguistic core. He suggests that…