Post-structuralism
Overview
Post-structuralism is a late 20th-century development in philosophy and literary criticism, which is difficult to summarize but may be associated with the works of thinkers such as Foucault, Derrida, and Kristeva. It is a response to structuralism and works to undermine the basic concepts of it. Post-structuralism is a theoretical paradigm that challenges the possibility of objective knowledge and embraces the uncertainty inherent in human experience.
Origins
Post-structuralism emerged in France during the late 1960s as a radical critique of structuralism. The term was coined by American philosopher Deely in his 1971 article "The Philosophical Dimensions of the Origin of Species." The movement is closely related to postmodernism, although the two concepts are not synonymous.
Key Concepts
Post-structuralism rejects the notion of a stable, universal meaning, and instead, emphasizes the multiplicity of meanings. It argues that our understanding of the world is constructed through language, and therefore, language does not reflect reality but rather constructs it. This leads to the concept of deconstruction, a method of analysis that exposes the inherent contradictions in a text.
Influence
Post-structuralism has had a profound impact on disciplines such as literary theory, sociology, anthropology, history, and law. It has also influenced a range of contemporary theoretical movements, including critical theory, queer theory, and feminist theory.
Criticism
Post-structuralism has been criticized for its relativism and rejection of the concept of truth. Critics argue that it leads to a form of nihilism, or the belief that nothing has any inherent importance and that life lacks purpose.