Which binary oppositions does deconstruction examine in Western philosophy?

Deconstruction examines binary oppositions that have been inherent in Western philosophy since the time of the ancient Greeks. These oppositions are typically hierarchical, meaning one term is assumed to be primary or fundamental while the other is considered secondary or derivative.1

Common examples of these binary oppositions include:
* Nature and culture
* Speech and writing
* Mind and body
* Presence and absence
* Inside and outside
* Literal and metaphorical
* Intelligible and sensible
* Form and meaning1

Rather than simply inverting these hierarchies, deconstruction aims to "displace" or restructure them. By analyzing the tensions and contradictions within a text, this approach demonstrates that the relationship between these terms is not one-sided. For instance, Jacques Derrida famously challenged the privileging of speech over writing, arguing that both are manifestations of a more generalized system of representation. Ultimately, deconstruction reveals that these oppositions are products of the text itself, rather than objective categories given independently of it.1