Hello,
Foucault,as also(other) postmodernists,is against metatheories
and meta-narratives as these tend to be opressive and terroristic.
But,while accepting that there may not be such a thing as human nature,
and that a subject is fashioned by the operation of power through
various institutions affecting him is there any frame-of-reference
whereby we could adjudge between say,a person who doesn't want to kill
another because he doesn't like the sight of blood and one who avoids
killing because he puts faith in the Kantian law of Respect for
Persons? Ofcourse one might deny any need for such a judgement.HOWEVER
wouldn't this world be a better place if even though through the
influence of a metatheory like that of Kantian ethics ,categories
develop in individuals ,over a period of time,that create in them
an urge say, to treat others as ends and not mere means?Or would a
Foucauldian rather believe that an overarching principle,no matter how
well constructed,can only be oppressive and therefore never of any
avail? Ammar.
Foucault,as also(other) postmodernists,is against metatheories
and meta-narratives as these tend to be opressive and terroristic.
But,while accepting that there may not be such a thing as human nature,
and that a subject is fashioned by the operation of power through
various institutions affecting him is there any frame-of-reference
whereby we could adjudge between say,a person who doesn't want to kill
another because he doesn't like the sight of blood and one who avoids
killing because he puts faith in the Kantian law of Respect for
Persons? Ofcourse one might deny any need for such a judgement.HOWEVER
wouldn't this world be a better place if even though through the
influence of a metatheory like that of Kantian ethics ,categories
develop in individuals ,over a period of time,that create in them
an urge say, to treat others as ends and not mere means?Or would a
Foucauldian rather believe that an overarching principle,no matter how
well constructed,can only be oppressive and therefore never of any
avail? Ammar.