just a quick note.
I would say it is more complex than this. What Foucualt would probably say
is that choice is indeed possible, but this possiblity is a situated
possiblity and emerge within a system and structured by it to certain extent
[one system can be more conducive to this than the other though]. Foucault
stresses on the primacy of system, and he thought both idnividualtion and
soiciation occurs within system, it does not in any way, however, proves
that he denies choice. The question is not the denial or non denial, but of
reconceptualisation.
About Sartre, we should keep in mind the all pervasive influence of Sartre
as well. Foucault has more complex relation with Sartre, Hegel and Kant than
normally thought.
regards
ali
----Original Message Follows----
From: Jivko Georgiev <jivkox43georgiev@xxxxxxxxx>
Reply-To: foucault@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
To: foucault@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Foucault and rational choice
Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2002 03:18:04 -0700 (PDT)
This will be short,
but as far as i am in studiing F. i think one of his
basic points are that there are system of knowledge,
power and ethics that pre-exist the indivduals, and
the individuals are bound to conform to the systems,
which defines the rules : Thus the individual can not
choose - the system defines her/his possible choices.
This is contrary to Sartre. There was lecture by the
ph.d. from Chicago Uni Thomas Flint. He said F. always
wanted to be opposed to Sartre. So if we oppose Sartre
to himself, than we might have Foucault, lol...
Lostantin
--- Richard Levesque <rlevesqu@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hello,
>
> My name is Richard Levesque. I am a PhD
> student. In my thesis project, I try to integrate
> and develop Foucault's ideas concerning the
> productive aspect of power in a rational choice
> context.
>
>
>
> Thus far, I have not been able to convince anyone
> who is knowledgeable of Foucault's work that it is
> either possible or, for that matter, worthwhile to
> transpose Foucault's ideas concerning the productive
> aspect of power in a rational choice context. I
> explain my lack of success in that regard by the
> fact that the vast majority of people who know
> Foucault happen to be rather critical of rational
> choice theories and, more particularly, of the
> methodology on which they rely to study social
> phenomena. Thus far, only economists have displayed
> an interest in my work and positive comments about
> it (which has quite surprised me since, at the
> outset, I thought that it would be the other way
> around).
>
>
>
> In a short piece (less than 10 pages long) that is
> available on my website, I explain how it is
> possible to integrate Foucault's ideas concerning
> the productive aspect of power within a rational
> choice context and, more particularly, I explain how
> Foucault's views on productive power can be used to
> study in a whole new way policy processes from a
> rational choice perspective.
>
>
>
> I would really appreciate it if some people that
> have a good knowledge and understanding of Foucault'
> work would take the time to take a look at it and
> give me some comments. To see and read it, just
> click on the following link:
>
>
>
> http://rideau.carleton.ca/~rlevesqu/introduction.htm
>
>
>
> I would especially appreciate comments concerning
> the section (pages 5 to 8) in which I discuss and
> explain how Foucault conceives power relationships.
> I want to make sure that I got Foucault right and
> also that I do not stretch his ideas too far to make
> them fit in a rational choice context.
>
>
>
> Thanks.
>
>
>
> Richard Levesque
>
>
>
> P.S.: the piece posted on my website is totally
> different from the one I posted on this list two
> years ago.
>
>
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