Vasu asked:

How are 'post-modernism' and 'post-structuralism' different from 'modernism' and 'structuralism'?

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I'm not sure how clear-cut this can be made to be, but basically, structuralism was started by
Saussure who developed a theory of codes in language, taking it as an independent system. The
idea of an independent rule-governed system was extended to other areas of study such as sociology
and anthropology. Explanation and analysis of phenomena in terms of an independent system
identified by its structure constituted an alternative to previous historical explanations. It also
contrasts with phenomenology and existentialism which also have a stronghold in continental
philosophy, since structuralist analysis identifies rules and structures which are taken to be facts, or
objective, in contrast to the subjectivity which is essential to existentialism and phenomenology.

Post-structuralism is a return to subjectivity and a movement away from determinate explanations in
terms of structures. Likewise, post-modernists reject logic and truth in favour of multiple
interpretations.

Modernism refers to modern philosophy especially anglo-saxon philosophy, whereas structuralism
was more sociological and the primary structuralists were continental. However, like structuralism,
modernism was ruled by the application of reason and logic and sought foundations for knowledge,
explanations of truth and presupposed the determinacy of meaning. Post-modernism, on the other
hand, is a rejection, systems of knowledge, rules, principles, and structures, so it is also
post-structuralist.

Rachel Browne