Understanding Knowledge Formation and Power Relations in Foucault's Discourse Theory
Knowledge formation and power relations are intricately interconnected in Foucault's discourse theory. The process of knowledge acquisition shapes individual subjectivities, while institutions normalize these subjectivities through societal practices. Foucault explores the archeology of discourse, governmentality, biopower, and the role of institutions in shaping populations. The Birth of the Clinic and The Order of Things delve into epistemes and the production of scientific knowledge. Foucault critiques human sciences for being subjective and influenced by discursive practices.
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Chaput, C., 2009 Knowledge is the process through which the subject finds himself modified by what he knows, or rather by the labor performed in order to know. Remarks on Marx Subjectivity: He argued that there is no self-identical subjectivity, i.e., no one person has a single identity through out life.
His various theoretical productions: http://www.protevi.com/john/Foucault/Foucault_Historical_Chart.html
Archeology of discourse institutional formations tell you about how the related knowledge was produced Power/knowledge relations: how power regulates the body using knowledge Discourse formations discipline ways of thinking, and thus relating to others Power acts on bodies: disciplines through one s practices Governmentality and biopower are the means to shape population s practices
Institutions are designed to normalize individuals subjectivities A historical analysis of discourses show how these institutions monitored normal/abnormal activities of individuals and bell-curved the society s normalcy. Madness and civilization: institutionalized people for being different from the normal - mental hospital is to normalize them A particular kind of reason that fits the political economic regime specify the limits of society s acceptance of certain practices. Madness label is for the outlier or abnormal and therefore must be normalized through institutionalization.
The Birth of the Clinic: Episteme:http://www.michel- foucault.com/concepts/( Foucault introduces in his book The Order of Things, refers to the orderly 'unconscious' structures underlying the production of scientific knowledge in a particular time and place. It is the 'epistemological field' which forms the conditions of possibility for knowledge in a given time and place. It has often been compared to T.S Kuhn's notion of paradigm). (Alan Sheridan s) medical gaze F notes that modern medical (interpretations of ) knowledge comes from a break in the episteme in knowledge formation- it is not through a gradual growth from accumulating medical evidence. Medical gaze and prevailing medical knowledge (med gaze) rather than the patient s explanation, determine what exists and how to understand it.
The Order of Things: F critiques all human sciences as not objective in their pursuits but are interested and implicated through the discursive practices of various epistemes. i.e., human is invented through discourses. He criticizes the various knowledges produced though discourses on the human . As he sees knowledge as an index of power, whether human or cyborg or animal, all exist in its own regime of discourses. i.e., all have rules for existing and being within the boundaries of that society. Chaput: p 95: Foucault later clarifies that men constitute themselves in an infinite and multiple series of different subjectivities that would never reach an end (Remarks on Marx 123). A particular version of the human the being coextensive with capitalism s rationality is a recent invention and not necessarily the form the human must take .
Fs object of study shifts from discourse (that forms institutional and disciplinary knowledge) to power (that forms the body that is subjected to differing epistemes) F connects different events from analyzing the different interpretations that emerge on the event these are perspectives not transcendental truth . Certain powers are connected to certain practices that shape the body.
Discipline and Punish (1975; trans. 1977): study of Prison- docile bodies and constant surveillance The History of Sexuality: An Introduction (1976; trans. 1978) and retitled as The Will to Knowledge. The Uses of Pleasure (1984; trans. 1985) and The Care of the Self (1984; trans. 1986). Sexuality and repression power- represses but also produces- power also generates resistance
Biopower and biopolitics: discussed in Fs Lectures on governmentality (Coll ge de France ). Society Must Be Defended (lectures from 1975 to 1976). individual practices and institutional processes maintain capitalism defends the society, i.e., using biopower ( birth and death rates, literacy rates, insurance rates, inter-est rates, and forecasts that enumerate future projects and quantify normalcy within statistical averages. This form of power has no control over death but it can control mortality (Society 248). Chaput, p.100 ). Political logic is used is policies to regulate population, poverty, etc., so that govts let some die and forces others live , e.g., cuts to food stamps.
F challenges: 1. How does the society maintain freedom vis- - vis its power that produces unfreedom 2. How does society resolve the paradox of a secure society that is the paradoxes generated by a security society the basis of which is premised on insecurity of life and freedom.
Foucaults Nietzsche, Genealogy, History offers three theories for establishing counter-memory: parody, disassociation, and sacrifice Parodicrepetition of the traditional court that would expose the policing problems. Parody is thus a political practice and not an academic matter with a theoretical solution. Parody opens up one s assessment of the police for public discussion instead of repeating the courtroom procedures that would reinforce the previous practice of injustice . This will reject the logics of the courtroom as an institution that reinforced the unjust practice.
F argued that we dont need to change peoples consciousness (what one thinks) to arrive at the truth. But, we must change the political, economic, institutional regime of the production of truth .
