Foucault: Philosopher or Historian?

by Clare O'Farrell

The controversial French thinker, Michel Foucault, was famous not only for the variety of his interests but also for his frequent changes of position. Clare O'Farrell, in a lively and lucid account, argues that for all this diversity his work was held together by a coherent theme, namely the idea that philosophy should be practiced as an historical inquiry into the limits of ordered experience. At the same time, Foucault's work is situated in its intellectual and social context in France and striking differences between its French--and English--speaking reception are discussed and explained.

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Isaac Price-Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall a good book, plenty of useful discussion, but it’s really dragged down by a plethora of misreadings in chapter five

[Halvor Fjellstad · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very insightful, easily-read and thorough walk-through when it comes to explaining (or at least exploring) the basis of Foucault's motivation, inspiration and use of sources.

What I loved about this book was it's abillity to explain the magnitude of sources in Foucault's work and thinking - as a part of the post war French intellectual elite.