Biography
- 1926 - 1984
- Poitiers, France
- Social theory, power, knowledge
- Michel Foucault was a French philosopher and social theorist who is known for his contributions to the understanding of power, knowledge, and the ways in which they are interconnected. He was born in Poitiers, France and later studied at the École Normale Supérieure in Paris. Foucault's work focused on the ways in which power is exercised and maintained in society, and he argued that power and knowledge are not separate entities, but rather are mutually reinforcing and shaping forces. His ideas have had a significant impact on a wide range of fields, including sociology, cultural studies, and critical theory.
Highlight
- Michel Foucault is known for his contributions to the understanding of power, knowledge, and the ways in which they are interconnected in society.
- Jean-Paul Sartre - Foucault's work in social theory was heavily influenced by Jean-Paul Sartre's philosophy of existentialism.
- Jacques Derrida - Foucault's ideas about the relationship between power and knowledge are closely related to Jacques Derrida's concept of "deconstruction," which suggests that meaning is not fixed, but rather is constantly being negotiated and reinterpreted.
Books
- Discipline and Punish - a major work by Foucault that explores the ways in which power is exercised and maintained in modern societies through systems of punishment and control.
- The History of Sexuality - a series of books by Foucault that examine the ways in which sexuality has been understood and regulated in different historical periods.
Concepts
- Power - the ability to influence or control the actions and thoughts of others.
- Knowledge - information, understanding, or insight that is acquired through experience or learning.
- Discourse - the ways in which language is used to construct and shape our understanding of the world. Foucault argued that discourses are closely tied to power, and that they play a significant role in shaping our beliefs, values, and behaviors.
- Power/knowledge nexus - the idea that power and knowledge are mutually reinforcing and shaping forces, and that they are intertwined in complex and dynamic ways.
References
- Foucault, M. (1977). Discipline and punish: The birth of the prison (translated by Alan Sheridan). New York: Vintage Books.
- Foucault, M. (1978). The history of sexuality, Volume 1: An introduction (translated by Robert Hurley). New York: Vintage Books.
- Michel Foucault. (n.d.). In Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Retrieved from https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/foucault/