logocentrismthus

Logocentrismthus is a neologism used in some critical-theory discussions to describe the consequence or culmination of logocentric assumptions in discourse. The term blends logocentrism—the privileging of speech, logos, and a present-origin source of meaning—with an inference marker to signal the expected outcomes of holding those premises.

Origins and usage

The phrase is not standard in mainstream philosophy and appears mainly as a rhetorical device in post-structuralist and deconstructive contexts. It rests on the well-established concept of logocentrism, a term associated with Jacques Derrida, who argued that Western philosophy prioritizes speech over writing, presence over absence, and an originary source of meaning. In discussions, logocentrismthus may be used to summarize the logical or ethical implications that follow from maintaining logocentric premises, such as an emphasis on immediate presence and authoritative origin of truth.

Relation to deconstruction

Derridean deconstruction challenges logocentrism by showing how meaning is unstable and how writing always participates in the making of sense. Logocentrismthus can function as a shorthand for the line of critique that exposes the paradoxes and exclusions produced by logocentric thinking, or, in some uses, as a label for arguments that purportedly still operate under those premises and thus reveal their own limitations.

Key themes

Presence and absence, origin and authority of meaning, the role of language in shaping reality, and the ethical implications of representation.

Criticism

Scholars differ on how accurately logocentrism has been characterized and on the usefulness of the term logocentrismthus as a label. Some argue it risks overgeneralization, while others see it as a helpful summary of Derridean influence on subsequent theory. See also logocentrism, deconstruction, phonocentrism, Derrida.