Introduction
Structuralism is a way of thinking that involves the perception of everything as consisting of smaller entities that can further be divided into smaller basic forms. These entities are what control the thoughts of humans and their surroundings. Structuralism suggests that no activity is influenced by superficial components, as it may seem, but a deeper functioning of an internal system (Linnebo, 2008). Roland Barthes is among the greatest structuralists that have ever walked on the surface of the earth. This essay will discuss various factors that point to the fact that Roland Barthes was a structuralist.
Reason Why Roland Barthes Was A Structuralist
According to Carter (2005), Roland Barthes was one of the early pioneers of structuralism. Of the seventeen books, he wrote in his lifetime, more than half of them were based on structuralism. He also wrote articles in scholarly journals and scientific publications in a bid to make clear the concept of structuralism. His literary work was especially crucial at a time when a number of scientists misunderstood structuralism and strived to poke holes into the concept (Griffiths, 1996). Although Barthes had not contemplated anything of the sort, his efforts and the efforts of others led to the establishment of the structuralism movement in the 1950s and the 1960s.
Influence Of Roland Barthes On Structuralism
Barthes also stood for structuralism in scientific debates and discussions. He found structuralism as the most appropriate agent to formalize various fields such as literature. His book “Introduction to the Structural Analysis of Narratives” is a show of the capability of structuralism to revolutionize major subjects in life (Belsey, 2002). As a matter of fact, Barthes wrote all his books, majorly in psychology and anthropology, in a structural manner.
Conclusion
From the foregoing, it is evident that Roland Barthes was a staunch structuralist. His activities in the field of science and his literary works are concrete proof of this reality. His efforts to advocate for structuralism also led to the widespread acknowledgement of structuralism in the second half of the twentieth century.
Reference List
Belsey, C. (2002) Post-Structuralism: A Very Short Introduction. London, Oxford University Press.
Carter, J. (2005) Individuation of Objects – a Problem for Structuralism? Synthese, 143 (3). 4.
Griffiths, P. E. (1996) Darwinism, Process Structuralism, and Natural Kinds. Philosophy of Science, 63 (3). 9.
Linnebo, Q. (2008) Structuralism and the Notion of Dependence. Philosophical Quarterly, 58 (230).59.