MICHEL FOUCAULT, info.

Kevin,

"a subject without history" would seem to be the opposite of how you  
remembered it, i.e., "history without a subject" (e.g., Althusser).   
The quote would seem to be a comment on the difference between the  
Annales school's approach (which was presumably predominant at that  
time in France) and the predominant philosophical approach, which  
assumes a transcendental subject of knowledge, centre of actions, etc  
etc.  Presumably the comment was prefatory to an attempt on  
Foucault's part to give a properly historical account of the  
"subject" and its effects.  Anyway if anyone wants to comment further  
on this passage maybe they can clarify things.

DM

On 04/03/2008, at 7:18 AM, Teemu K wrote:

> Hi
>
> In "About the Beginning of the Hermeneutics of the Self", at page 202,
> there's a passage that might be the one.
>
> "...most historians prefer a history of social processes, and most
> philosophers prefer a subject without history" (Political Theory,  
> Volume 21,
> Issue 2, 1993)
>
> best regards,
> Teemu
>
>
> On Sat, Mar 1, 2008 at 4:18 PM, Kevin Turner  
> <kevin.turner@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > Thanks for these suggestions, but I'm almost sure that it comes  
> > from one
> > of the texts in the three volume Essential Works: I can almost  
> > picture it on
> > the page.
> > However, like I said, I have been unable tolocate it.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Kevin.
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: mail.to.si@xxxxxxxxx
> > > Sent: Fri, 29 Feb 2008 17:26:00 -0800
> > > To: foucault-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > Subject: Re: [Foucault-L] philosophy and history
> > >
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > I think I read this line in an interview (given the title "The
> > Impossible
> > > Prison" in English trans.). I am not positive, though.
> > >
> > > Good luck.
> > >
> > > Si
> > >
> > > On Fri, Feb 29, 2008 at 2:00 PM, John J Crandall <jjcranda@xxxxxxx>
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Check the archaeology of knowledge. That tends to discuss  
> > > > methodology
> > > > and
> > > > wants/needs/desires of social scientists. Also check power/ 
> > > > knowledge.
> > > >
> > > > Perhaps someone knows more specifically than I.
> > > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: foucault-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > > > [mailto:foucault-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Kevin Turner
> > > > Sent: Friday, February 29, 2008 4:29 PM
> > > > To: Mailing-list
> > > > Subject: [Foucault-L] philosophy and history
> > > >
> > > > Firstly, I'd like to say thanks for clarifying my previous  
> > > > question on
> > > > Remarks on Marx.
> > > >
> > > > Secondly, can anyone point me to the text in which Foucault says
> > > > something
> > > > like
> > > > "philosophers want a subject without a history and historians  
> > > > want a
> > > > history
> > > > without a subject"
> > > > I know I have read this somewhere, but am damned if I can find the
> > > > article
> > > > or interview in which it appears.
> > > >
> > > > Cheers,
> > > > Kevin.
> > > >
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