In the manuscript for the lecture of 21 March 1979, Foucault wrote a final section called "Concerning human technology", which appears on pages 260-261 of Birth of Biopolitics. In it he writes of the shift within neoliberal thought from the juridical/normalizing regime of disciplinary power to a focus on governing through environmental interventions that establish and modify as necessary the 'rules of the game' within which the subject of neoliberal governmentality acts.
At the very end, he writes, "But does this mean that we are dealing with
natural subjects?"
I'm interested to see how some might interpret this question Foucault asks. Is he inquiring as to whether neoliberal thought is predicated on the idea of a natural subject? Furthermore, how exactly do neoliberals such as Becker understand human subjectivity? I have some ideas, but I'm interested to see what others think.
Jason R. Weidner
PhD. candidate, Department of International Relations
Florida International University
Miami, FL USA