structuralism

Definition

A school of thought or analytical method that views social, cultural, or linguistic phenomena as systems of interconnected parts where the underlying structure is more significant than the individual elements.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'structura' (a building or arrangement), the term was popularized in the early 20th century, particularly through the linguistics of Ferdinand de Saussure, before expanding into broader social and literary analysis.

In the news

Fukuyama briefly mentions 'post-structuralism' as a movement he encountered in Paris, ultimately rejecting it along with deconstructionism as nihilistic projects that undermined reasoned discourse.

The Last Man Comes Full Circle

Washington Monthly

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