Full Idea
In continental philosophy there is a pernicious tendency to explain everything in terms of 'one big thing', such as the 'death drive' (Freud), 'being' (Heidegger), 'the real' (Lacan), 'power' (Foucault), 'the other' (Levinas), or 'différance' (Derrida).
Gist of Idea
Continental philosophy has a bad tendency to offer 'one big thing' to explain everything
Source
Simon Critchley (Interview with Baggini and Stangroom [2001], p.197)
Book Reference
Baggini,J/Stangroom,J: 'New British Philosophy' [Routledge 2002], p.197
A Reaction
From a fan of this type of philosophy, this is a refreshing remark, because if pinpoints a very off-putting feature. Each of these 'big things' should be up for question, not offered as axiomatic assumptions that explain everything else.