<from Kristin Switala>
Dear Fiona,
There are many places where Foucault discusses the conditions
of emergence for a discourse. By this he means the following things:
a. the various political, social, economic factors which help
produce a new discourse in society (such as a new theory or a new idea of
how to get something done, etc.)
b. the specific mutation in one discourse which led to the
emergence of a new discourse (such as the mutation in the Classical
Quadrilateral of Language which led to the Modern Anthropological
Quadrilateral -- see THE ORDER OF THINGS, chapter 9 (and previous
chapters)
c. the process by which a "knowledge" is codified and structured
so as to become a "discourse" in society -- this is what THE ARCHAEOLOGY
OF KNOWLEDGE is all about.
I realize that these three points are rather skeletal, but you've
asked a question that goes to the heart of Foucault's project (at least
of his early project). Here are some references that you can examine:
A. Works by Foucault
1. THE ORDER OF THINGS
2. "Politics and the Study of Discourse," IDEOLOGY AND CONSCIOUSNESS
vol. 3 (Spring 1978), pp. 7-26, trans. C. Gordon. This is a translation
of Foucault's essay, "Reponse a une question," ESPRIT vol. 371 (May
1968), pp. 850-874.
3. THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF KNOWLEDGE
3. THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF KNOWLEDGE
4. "Michel Foucault explique son dernier livre," MAGAZINE LITTERAIRE
vol. 28 (April-May 1969), pp. 23-25. This is an interview Foucault did
with J.J. Brochier and (as far as I know) has not yet been translated.
In it, however, Foucault discusses the aims and purposes of THE
ARCHAEOLOGY OF KNOWLEDGE.
B. Secondary Sources
1. Murphy, J.W., "Foucault's Ground of History," INTERNATIONAL
PHILOSOPHICAL QUARTERLY vol. 24 (June 1984), p. 189-196.
2. [For a discussion of Foucault and Kant] Grumley, J.E. HISTORY AND
TOTALITY: RADICAL HISTORICISM FROM HEGEL TO FOUCAULT. New York:
Routledge, 1989, around p. 185.
3. Roth, M.S. "Foucault's 'History of the Present'," HISTORY AND THEORY
vol. 20 (Feb. 1981), pp. 32-46.
4. Van de Wiele, J. "L'histoire chez Michel Foucault," REVUE
PHILOSOPHIQUE DE LOUVAIN vol. 81 (Nov. 1983), pp. 601-633.
5. Noujain, E.G. "History as genealogy: an exploration of Foucault's
approach to history," PHILOSOPHY (Supplement) vol. 21 (1986/87), pp. 157-174.
6. Flynn, B.C. "Michel Foucault and the Huserlian Problematic of a
Transcendental Philosophy of History," PHILOSOPHY TODAY vol. 22 (Fall
1978), pp. 224-238.
7. Poster, M. "The future according to Foucault," in MODERN EUROPEAN
INTELLECTUAL HISTORY: REAPPRAISALS AND NEW PERSPECTIVES. Edited by D.
LaCapra and S.L. Kaplan. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1982, pp.
137-152.
8. Deleuze, G. FOUCAULT. Trans. S. Hand. Minneapolis: University of
Minnesota Press, 1986.
9. McDonell, D.J. "On Foucault's philosophical method," CANADIAN JOURNAL
OF PHILOSOPHY vol. 7 (Spet. 1977), pp. 537-553.
10. Grumley, J.E., "Michel Foucault: anti-totalising scepticism or
totalising prophecy?" in HISTORY AND TOTALITY (see number 2 above).
However, if you want a short-cut to all of this, you could read
my dissertation, which is specifically on this topic. Here's the info:
Switala, Kristin Anne. THE MUTATION OF LANGUAGE IN FOUCAULT'S
DISCOURSE. Nashville: Vanderbilt University, 1993. Order number 9416517.
Good luck with your search. It's a huge issue!
Sincerely,
Kristin Switala
------------------
Dear Fiona,
There are many places where Foucault discusses the conditions
of emergence for a discourse. By this he means the following things:
a. the various political, social, economic factors which help
produce a new discourse in society (such as a new theory or a new idea of
how to get something done, etc.)
b. the specific mutation in one discourse which led to the
emergence of a new discourse (such as the mutation in the Classical
Quadrilateral of Language which led to the Modern Anthropological
Quadrilateral -- see THE ORDER OF THINGS, chapter 9 (and previous
chapters)
c. the process by which a "knowledge" is codified and structured
so as to become a "discourse" in society -- this is what THE ARCHAEOLOGY
OF KNOWLEDGE is all about.
I realize that these three points are rather skeletal, but you've
asked a question that goes to the heart of Foucault's project (at least
of his early project). Here are some references that you can examine:
A. Works by Foucault
1. THE ORDER OF THINGS
2. "Politics and the Study of Discourse," IDEOLOGY AND CONSCIOUSNESS
vol. 3 (Spring 1978), pp. 7-26, trans. C. Gordon. This is a translation
of Foucault's essay, "Reponse a une question," ESPRIT vol. 371 (May
1968), pp. 850-874.
3. THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF KNOWLEDGE
3. THE ARCHAEOLOGY OF KNOWLEDGE
4. "Michel Foucault explique son dernier livre," MAGAZINE LITTERAIRE
vol. 28 (April-May 1969), pp. 23-25. This is an interview Foucault did
with J.J. Brochier and (as far as I know) has not yet been translated.
In it, however, Foucault discusses the aims and purposes of THE
ARCHAEOLOGY OF KNOWLEDGE.
B. Secondary Sources
1. Murphy, J.W., "Foucault's Ground of History," INTERNATIONAL
PHILOSOPHICAL QUARTERLY vol. 24 (June 1984), p. 189-196.
2. [For a discussion of Foucault and Kant] Grumley, J.E. HISTORY AND
TOTALITY: RADICAL HISTORICISM FROM HEGEL TO FOUCAULT. New York:
Routledge, 1989, around p. 185.
3. Roth, M.S. "Foucault's 'History of the Present'," HISTORY AND THEORY
vol. 20 (Feb. 1981), pp. 32-46.
4. Van de Wiele, J. "L'histoire chez Michel Foucault," REVUE
PHILOSOPHIQUE DE LOUVAIN vol. 81 (Nov. 1983), pp. 601-633.
5. Noujain, E.G. "History as genealogy: an exploration of Foucault's
approach to history," PHILOSOPHY (Supplement) vol. 21 (1986/87), pp. 157-174.
6. Flynn, B.C. "Michel Foucault and the Huserlian Problematic of a
Transcendental Philosophy of History," PHILOSOPHY TODAY vol. 22 (Fall
1978), pp. 224-238.
7. Poster, M. "The future according to Foucault," in MODERN EUROPEAN
INTELLECTUAL HISTORY: REAPPRAISALS AND NEW PERSPECTIVES. Edited by D.
LaCapra and S.L. Kaplan. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1982, pp.
137-152.
8. Deleuze, G. FOUCAULT. Trans. S. Hand. Minneapolis: University of
Minnesota Press, 1986.
9. McDonell, D.J. "On Foucault's philosophical method," CANADIAN JOURNAL
OF PHILOSOPHY vol. 7 (Spet. 1977), pp. 537-553.
10. Grumley, J.E., "Michel Foucault: anti-totalising scepticism or
totalising prophecy?" in HISTORY AND TOTALITY (see number 2 above).
However, if you want a short-cut to all of this, you could read
my dissertation, which is specifically on this topic. Here's the info:
Switala, Kristin Anne. THE MUTATION OF LANGUAGE IN FOUCAULT'S
DISCOURSE. Nashville: Vanderbilt University, 1993. Order number 9416517.
Good luck with your search. It's a huge issue!
Sincerely,
Kristin Switala
------------------