Hello, Dr. Rackett.
In his course *L'Herméneutique du Sujet*, Michel Foucault explores this
connection between political spirituality and justice through his analysis
of Alcibiades, by Plato. His argument, very sumarized, is this:
1) The injunction "care of thyself" and/or "know thyself" in Alcibiades was
adressed for the young who wanted to govern the *polis*. They were
adolescents who want to learn how to govern. And to learn this, they should
govern themselves before. Alcibiades is one of these young man who looks for
advice for learning to govern and Socrates said to him: "Well, you want to
govern the city, so learn first to govern yourself, go know yourself."
2) Michel Foucault arguments that in the platonic model of care of the self
the emphasis is put on the *knowledge. *What should be aknowledge? The soul.
The soul was the target of the care of the self under the platonic mode.
Know yourself here is to know your soul.
3) And here we arrive at the theme of justice. For Plato, to know the soul
is tho know the divine element and this divine element is exactly what says
for Plato the place of the things, better: the hierarchy of things, what
deserves to come first, what must come latter, what is more important etc...
So, this is the very first articulation between these two themes - political
spiituality and justice. Of course, we can advance our discussion
remembering the very tough critic Michel Foucault will make to this platonic
model of knowledge of oneself.
Was in this diretction what you were asking?
Best regards,
Fábio Belo
Professor of Psychology
Master in Psychoanalysis
PhD in Literary Studies
Brazil
2009/11/5 Tim Rackett <timrackett@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>
> Hello everyone! Can anyone suggest a critical review on MF's notion of
> political spirituality especially the relation between aesthetics and
> ethicss in the context of performing judgement and justice?
> Much appreciated Dr Tim Rackett
> > Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 16:50:04 -0500
> > From: teresa.mayne@xxxxxxxxx
> > To: foucault-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: Re: [Foucault-L] Technical Question concerning 'Technologies of
> the Self'
> >
> > Mystery solved. You were right Teemu. It was in the Ecrits. I need to pay
> > more attention to the French - It's a process.
> >
> > Thanks everyone.
> >
> > On Tue, Oct 27, 2009 at 5:18 PM, Teresa Mayne <teresa.mayne@xxxxxxxxx
> >wrote:
> >
> > > Don't worry Douglas, I won't forget :) I will do everything in my
> > > intellect and through my passions to do him justice. My goal as always,
> is
> > > to be possessed by the author (Foucault in this case). I'll check out
> the
> > > secondary source for my own interest too. Thanks a bunch.
> > >
> > >
> > > On Tue, Oct 27, 2009 at 10:37 AM, Douglas Olena <doug@xxxxxxxxx>
> wrote:
> > >
> > >> Don't forget to look at Ethics, Subjectivity and Truth, the collection
> > >> of essays selected/translated from Dits et Ecrits (Teemu said this).
> > >> There are a couple essays in there dealing with technologies of the
> > >> self, including the essay of the same title from the Vermont lecture.
> > >> There is also one on writing and self writing. That is really the
> > >> richest store of single essay and interview materials. There is some
> > >> material in History of Sexuality v2, but it is not the focus of the
> > >> book. The major work on the topic is, as Colin said, in The
> > >> Hermeneutics of the Subject and the Alcibiades material is in the
> > >> second or third lecture. But there is much more about Greco-Roman
> > >> spirituality throughout the whole book. The index will help there.
> > >>
> > >> Doug
> > >>
> > >> ----------
> > >> Douglas F. Olena
> > >> http://olena.com/wordpress1
> > >> doug@xxxxxxxxx
> > >> 417-887-0332
> > >> ----------
> > >>
> > >> On Oct 27, 2009, at 6:36 AM, Teresa Mayne wrote:
> > >>
> > >> > Maybe, my confusion is coming in by thinking that it should be part
> > >> > of the
> > >> > official volumes of HS, but it really sounds like it
> is...HHMMM...It's
> > >> > possible that I'm just being stubborn. Thank you so much for all
> your
> > >> > help. I definitely have a firmer grasp of the directions to look
> > >> > into to
> > >> > solve the puzzle.
> > >> >
> > >> > On Tue, Oct 27, 2009 at 4:46 AM, Teemu K <teemuta@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > >> >
> > >> >> Dear Teresa
> > >> >>
> > >> >> in the Vermont lecture about Technology of the self (it can be
> > >> >> found for
> > >> >> example in the Essential works of MF, part Ethics) there's
> > >> >> something that's
> > >> >> pretty close to what you were writing about. Also the course
> > >> >> summary for the
> > >> >> Hermeneutics lecture series (eg in that same volume) contains
> > >> >> something a
> > >> >> bit like that.
> > >> >>
> > >> >> In HS vol 2 there seems to be at least something that's close:
> > >> >> chapter I.3.
> > >> >> Enkrateia, in subunit 5 about the askesis.
> > >> >>
> > >> >> That's maybe not quite what you were looking for though. If I'll
> find
> > >> >> something more relevant I will let you know.
> > >> >>
> > >> >> best,
> > >> >> Teemu
> > >> >>
> > >> >> On Tue, Oct 27, 2009 at 1:15 AM, Teresa Mayne <
> teresa.mayne@xxxxxxxxx
> > >> >> >wrote:
> > >> >>
> > >> >>> Hello,
> > >> >>>
> > >> >>> I have a technical question. I am presenting Foucault's
> > >> >>> 'technologies of
> > >> >>> the self' to a group of fellow students. Now I have a copy of
> > >> >>> what I am
> > >> >>> intended to present, but its in a collection of fragments.
> > >> >>> Obviously, I
> > >> >>> need to locate the 'technologies of the self' with the rest of The
> > >> >>> History
> > >> >>> of Sexuality. I know that it is supposed to be in volume 2, but I
> > >> >>> have
> > >> >>> volume 2 and 3 and I can't seem to locate the section. I have the
> > >> >>> 1990
> > >> >>> Random House Vintage Books, English translation by Robert Hurley.
> > >> >>> I was
> > >> >>> wondering if anyone could give me a clue as to why I can't find
> this
> > >> >>> section
> > >> >>> in the editions that I have or if it would be under a different
> > >> >>> title - I
> > >> >>> have went through the books with a 'fine toothed comb,' so to
> > >> >>> speak. Just
> > >> >>> to inspire the search and to help light the way through this
> > >> >>> phenomenon,
> > >> >>> it
> > >> >>> is the part where Foucault speaks on the Alcibiades and
> > >> >>> incorporates that
> > >> >>> glorious Delphic injunction. Thanks in advance.
> > >> >>> _______________________________________________
> > >> >>> Foucault-L mailing list
> > >> >>>
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> > _______________________________________________
> > >> > Foucault-L mailing list
> > >>
> > >> _______________________________________________
> > >> Foucault-L mailing list
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Foucault-L mailing list
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Download Messenger onto your mobile for free
> http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/174426567/direct/01/
> _______________________________________________
> Foucault-L mailing list
>
In his course *L'Herméneutique du Sujet*, Michel Foucault explores this
connection between political spirituality and justice through his analysis
of Alcibiades, by Plato. His argument, very sumarized, is this:
1) The injunction "care of thyself" and/or "know thyself" in Alcibiades was
adressed for the young who wanted to govern the *polis*. They were
adolescents who want to learn how to govern. And to learn this, they should
govern themselves before. Alcibiades is one of these young man who looks for
advice for learning to govern and Socrates said to him: "Well, you want to
govern the city, so learn first to govern yourself, go know yourself."
2) Michel Foucault arguments that in the platonic model of care of the self
the emphasis is put on the *knowledge. *What should be aknowledge? The soul.
The soul was the target of the care of the self under the platonic mode.
Know yourself here is to know your soul.
3) And here we arrive at the theme of justice. For Plato, to know the soul
is tho know the divine element and this divine element is exactly what says
for Plato the place of the things, better: the hierarchy of things, what
deserves to come first, what must come latter, what is more important etc...
So, this is the very first articulation between these two themes - political
spiituality and justice. Of course, we can advance our discussion
remembering the very tough critic Michel Foucault will make to this platonic
model of knowledge of oneself.
Was in this diretction what you were asking?
Best regards,
Fábio Belo
Professor of Psychology
Master in Psychoanalysis
PhD in Literary Studies
Brazil
2009/11/5 Tim Rackett <timrackett@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>
> Hello everyone! Can anyone suggest a critical review on MF's notion of
> political spirituality especially the relation between aesthetics and
> ethicss in the context of performing judgement and justice?
> Much appreciated Dr Tim Rackett
> > Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 16:50:04 -0500
> > From: teresa.mayne@xxxxxxxxx
> > To: foucault-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: Re: [Foucault-L] Technical Question concerning 'Technologies of
> the Self'
> >
> > Mystery solved. You were right Teemu. It was in the Ecrits. I need to pay
> > more attention to the French - It's a process.
> >
> > Thanks everyone.
> >
> > On Tue, Oct 27, 2009 at 5:18 PM, Teresa Mayne <teresa.mayne@xxxxxxxxx
> >wrote:
> >
> > > Don't worry Douglas, I won't forget :) I will do everything in my
> > > intellect and through my passions to do him justice. My goal as always,
> is
> > > to be possessed by the author (Foucault in this case). I'll check out
> the
> > > secondary source for my own interest too. Thanks a bunch.
> > >
> > >
> > > On Tue, Oct 27, 2009 at 10:37 AM, Douglas Olena <doug@xxxxxxxxx>
> wrote:
> > >
> > >> Don't forget to look at Ethics, Subjectivity and Truth, the collection
> > >> of essays selected/translated from Dits et Ecrits (Teemu said this).
> > >> There are a couple essays in there dealing with technologies of the
> > >> self, including the essay of the same title from the Vermont lecture.
> > >> There is also one on writing and self writing. That is really the
> > >> richest store of single essay and interview materials. There is some
> > >> material in History of Sexuality v2, but it is not the focus of the
> > >> book. The major work on the topic is, as Colin said, in The
> > >> Hermeneutics of the Subject and the Alcibiades material is in the
> > >> second or third lecture. But there is much more about Greco-Roman
> > >> spirituality throughout the whole book. The index will help there.
> > >>
> > >> Doug
> > >>
> > >> ----------
> > >> Douglas F. Olena
> > >> http://olena.com/wordpress1
> > >> doug@xxxxxxxxx
> > >> 417-887-0332
> > >> ----------
> > >>
> > >> On Oct 27, 2009, at 6:36 AM, Teresa Mayne wrote:
> > >>
> > >> > Maybe, my confusion is coming in by thinking that it should be part
> > >> > of the
> > >> > official volumes of HS, but it really sounds like it
> is...HHMMM...It's
> > >> > possible that I'm just being stubborn. Thank you so much for all
> your
> > >> > help. I definitely have a firmer grasp of the directions to look
> > >> > into to
> > >> > solve the puzzle.
> > >> >
> > >> > On Tue, Oct 27, 2009 at 4:46 AM, Teemu K <teemuta@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > >> >
> > >> >> Dear Teresa
> > >> >>
> > >> >> in the Vermont lecture about Technology of the self (it can be
> > >> >> found for
> > >> >> example in the Essential works of MF, part Ethics) there's
> > >> >> something that's
> > >> >> pretty close to what you were writing about. Also the course
> > >> >> summary for the
> > >> >> Hermeneutics lecture series (eg in that same volume) contains
> > >> >> something a
> > >> >> bit like that.
> > >> >>
> > >> >> In HS vol 2 there seems to be at least something that's close:
> > >> >> chapter I.3.
> > >> >> Enkrateia, in subunit 5 about the askesis.
> > >> >>
> > >> >> That's maybe not quite what you were looking for though. If I'll
> find
> > >> >> something more relevant I will let you know.
> > >> >>
> > >> >> best,
> > >> >> Teemu
> > >> >>
> > >> >> On Tue, Oct 27, 2009 at 1:15 AM, Teresa Mayne <
> teresa.mayne@xxxxxxxxx
> > >> >> >wrote:
> > >> >>
> > >> >>> Hello,
> > >> >>>
> > >> >>> I have a technical question. I am presenting Foucault's
> > >> >>> 'technologies of
> > >> >>> the self' to a group of fellow students. Now I have a copy of
> > >> >>> what I am
> > >> >>> intended to present, but its in a collection of fragments.
> > >> >>> Obviously, I
> > >> >>> need to locate the 'technologies of the self' with the rest of The
> > >> >>> History
> > >> >>> of Sexuality. I know that it is supposed to be in volume 2, but I
> > >> >>> have
> > >> >>> volume 2 and 3 and I can't seem to locate the section. I have the
> > >> >>> 1990
> > >> >>> Random House Vintage Books, English translation by Robert Hurley.
> > >> >>> I was
> > >> >>> wondering if anyone could give me a clue as to why I can't find
> this
> > >> >>> section
> > >> >>> in the editions that I have or if it would be under a different
> > >> >>> title - I
> > >> >>> have went through the books with a 'fine toothed comb,' so to
> > >> >>> speak. Just
> > >> >>> to inspire the search and to help light the way through this
> > >> >>> phenomenon,
> > >> >>> it
> > >> >>> is the part where Foucault speaks on the Alcibiades and
> > >> >>> incorporates that
> > >> >>> glorious Delphic injunction. Thanks in advance.
> > >> >>> _______________________________________________
> > >> >>> Foucault-L mailing list
> > >> >>>
> > >> >>
> > >> >>
> > >> > _______________________________________________
> > >> > Foucault-L mailing list
> > >>
> > >> _______________________________________________
> > >> Foucault-L mailing list
> > >>
> > >
> > >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Foucault-L mailing list
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> Download Messenger onto your mobile for free
> http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/174426567/direct/01/
> _______________________________________________
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