Hi Mark,
I do not recall Foucault using the exact phrase "happy positivism" not at
least in the English translation of Archealogy of Knowledge. What he does
say about it is on page 125 of A/K and what I think leads to the phrase
being created by commentators is the following passage. He says: "If, by
substituting the analysis of rarity for the search for totalities, the
description of relations of exteriority for the theme of transcendental
foundation, the analysis of accumulations for the quest of origin, one is a
positivst, then I am quite happy to be one." This is referring back, on the
same page, to his "willingness" to use the term "positivty" to describe the
emergence of a discursive formation. So, unless I am wrong, F. himself does
say he is employing a "happy positivism". In this sense, the term
positivity is more important to his argument and to any argument about what
he meant than the phrase "happy positivism." "Happy positivism" has a
polemical usfulness but not much else in my opinion.
Cheers,
Brodie
----- Original Message -----
From: "psicopr" <psicopr@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <foucault@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2004 10:55 PM
Subject: Re: Happy Positivism
> The statement is proclaimed at Archeologie du Savoir
>
> Mark Kelly <mgekelly@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hi list
> Numerous authors (Han, Simons, Habermas) make reference to Foucault's
> self-proclaimed "happy positivism", but without telling me where he
> proclaims this. I can't find it - could anyone help me?
> Mark
>
>
>
>
> "Por entre as filas o Atrida corria, dando ordens diversas:
> 'Sede homens, caros amigos, e ardor demonstrai combativo!
> Possa o respeito recíproco a todos na pugna dar ânimo.
> São mais poupados na guerra os que sabem morrer briosamente,
> ao passo que os fugitivos nem glória obterão, nem defesa'"
> Ilíada, canto V
> http://www.geocities.com/bernardorieux
>
> ---------------------------------
> Yahoo! Acesso Grátis - Internet rápida e grátis. Instale o discador agora!
>
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I do not recall Foucault using the exact phrase "happy positivism" not at
least in the English translation of Archealogy of Knowledge. What he does
say about it is on page 125 of A/K and what I think leads to the phrase
being created by commentators is the following passage. He says: "If, by
substituting the analysis of rarity for the search for totalities, the
description of relations of exteriority for the theme of transcendental
foundation, the analysis of accumulations for the quest of origin, one is a
positivst, then I am quite happy to be one." This is referring back, on the
same page, to his "willingness" to use the term "positivty" to describe the
emergence of a discursive formation. So, unless I am wrong, F. himself does
say he is employing a "happy positivism". In this sense, the term
positivity is more important to his argument and to any argument about what
he meant than the phrase "happy positivism." "Happy positivism" has a
polemical usfulness but not much else in my opinion.
Cheers,
Brodie
----- Original Message -----
From: "psicopr" <psicopr@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <foucault@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Wednesday, October 06, 2004 10:55 PM
Subject: Re: Happy Positivism
> The statement is proclaimed at Archeologie du Savoir
>
> Mark Kelly <mgekelly@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hi list
> Numerous authors (Han, Simons, Habermas) make reference to Foucault's
> self-proclaimed "happy positivism", but without telling me where he
> proclaims this. I can't find it - could anyone help me?
> Mark
>
>
>
>
> "Por entre as filas o Atrida corria, dando ordens diversas:
> 'Sede homens, caros amigos, e ardor demonstrai combativo!
> Possa o respeito recíproco a todos na pugna dar ânimo.
> São mais poupados na guerra os que sabem morrer briosamente,
> ao passo que os fugitivos nem glória obterão, nem defesa'"
> Ilíada, canto V
> http://www.geocities.com/bernardorieux
>
> ---------------------------------
> Yahoo! Acesso Grátis - Internet rápida e grátis. Instale o discador agora!
>
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>
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