Re: Foucauldian readings on the History and Philosophy of Scientific

>>
>> Yes, indeed! I am presently trying to cope with the frustration I
>> experience when discussing the 'Foucault' presented by those who have never
>> opened a single of F's books. In regard to interviews as a source of
>> clarification, don't forget:
>>
>> ** Language, Counter-memory, Practice (1977, ed. Donald Bouchard and Simon
>> Sherry)
>> ** Remarks on Marx (1977/1991, Interviews with Duccio Trombadori)
>> ** Power/Knowledge (1980, ed. Colin Gordon)
>>
>> I believe there is also another collection called 'Foucault Live'
>>
>>
>
>Yes, there is a collection titled "Foucault Live," as well as an even more
>recent "The Final Foucault." Of course, with those who can read Foucault
>in the
>French the number of interviews doubles...
>
>Sam Chambers

I agree with everything thats been said so far - we're obviusly forming a
very compact discursive field with little dispersion, apart of course from
the geographical dispersion! Sorry to be pedantic, I have suggested these
volumes in a prior message to someone else, but if your French is good, try
Dits et Ecrits, published by Gallimard in 4 volumes from 1959 to Foucault's
death. Its a compilation of all the interviews, letters and notes/lectures
which Foucault gave/wrote etc. - it includes the interviews and texts which
initially appeared in languages other than French and which were
re-translated, or where the French original was dug out. Its a mine of
insights into Foucault's thinking and I agree its often clearer than the
books we all know and have tried hard to understand. I suggest in
particular Volume 1 for a clear expose of Foucault's methodology in
relation to discursive formations - much clearer than l'archeologie du
savoir for instance - to be found in an exchange with members of the
epistemological circle!!! I havent yet got Volumes 3 and 4 - theyre being
sent to me from France and the pruchase of the said volumes + postage is
proving quite expensive....! Having said that I still think that the
History of Sexuality is one of the clearer Foucault books on his theory of
power and subjectivity.
For English speakers/readers, try Merquior's book, the Rabinow reader and
Smart's book on Foucault - a good intro to Foucault's thought.
Finally, yes Foucault was fickle at times, but then he was also
approachable and evidently honest about the gaps in his work - he was also
modest about his undertaking and he did not fear being challenged by
students or professional academics - the only thing that he could not
suffer was the search for the roots of his work - or more precisely the
distinctiveness of his philosophical perspective - in his own biography and
psyche as if there was something unsaid about him which could be revealed
through his work and act as the key to his inner self.
I hope this helps.
Emmanuelle

Emmanuelle Tulle-Winton
Department of Social Sciences
Glasgow Caledonian University
Glasgow G4 0BA
Scotland
Tel: 0141 331 3330
Fax: 0141 331 3439




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