Structuralism
Structuralism is a theoretical paradigm that emphasizes that elements of culture, such as language, myths, and fashion, must be understood in terms of their relationship to a larger, overarching system or structure. It works to uncover the structures that underlie all the things that humans do, think, perceive, and feel.
Structuralism originated in the early 20th century in the fields of linguistics, psychology, and anthropology. The term was first used in the works of French anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss, who gave the concept its name.
Origins[edit | edit source]
Structuralism has its roots in the work of Ferdinand de Saussure, a Swiss linguist who is considered the father of modern linguistics. Saussure's work focused on the ways in which the meanings of words are structured by their differences from other words. This idea was later developed by Lévi-Strauss, who applied it to the study of kinship systems and myths.
Key Concepts[edit | edit source]
The key concepts of structuralism are structure, system, and value. Structure refers to the overall organization of a system. System refers to the network of relationships between the elements of a structure. Value refers to the meaning that is produced by these relationships.
Structuralism also emphasizes the importance of binary oppositions, or pairs of mutually exclusive terms, such as hot/cold, male/female, and culture/nature. These oppositions are seen as fundamental to human thought and to the structure of all systems of meaning.
Criticisms[edit | edit source]
Structuralism has been criticized for its deterministic view of culture and its neglect of individual agency. Critics argue that it reduces everything to the level of the system, ignoring the role of individual action and creativity. It has also been criticized for its reliance on binary oppositions, which are seen as simplistic and reductionist.
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
| Structuralism Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
