Foucault Facts
What type of Philosopher was Foucault?
Post Structuralist
True or False: Foucault wrote the novel, The Origins of Power
False!
True or False: Foucault's idea of Bio power is about how governments and institutions control not just individual people but whole populations.
True!
True or False: Foucault's theories primarily address the relationships between power and knowledge, and how they are used as a form of social control through social institutions
TRUE
What inspired him to write his book, Madness and Civilization?
Personal experience working in a mental hospital
This term, often associated with Foucault, refers to the set of ideas and practices that define what is considered "normal" in society.
Normalization
True or False + Explanation: Due to Foucault's agreement with some structuralist ideals, he accepted being referred to as a Structuralist.
False: He insulted those who commented on his "structuralist" views, calling them half-witted and publicly disagreeing with other famous structuralists.
What book, introduces the idea of “discourse” which is how a society talks and thinks about sexuality, this in turn shapes our understanding of it.
The History of Sexuality- 1976
What is Post Structuralism?
Sees language, thought and knowledge as less of a structure/system but rather as something endlessly changing; affected by cultural, social and historical influences.
Name 3 Topics Foucault most frequently discusses:
1. Power
2. Identity
3. Knowledge
What term does Michel Foucault use to describe the distinct historical time frames or structures that shape knowledge within Western culture? (From his novel: Archaeology of knowledge)
Epistemes
Foucault's genealogy is a way of looking at history differently. Instead of seeing history as a straightforward path of progress, he says we should study...
how power, knowledge, and rules change and mix up over time.
What distinguished Foucaults method?
Foucault's method was distinguished by a strong dedication to comprehending the complex interplay of power, knowledge, and social structures. He felt that society norms and structures significantly impacted how people perceive and experience reality.
In "Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison," Michel Foucault identifies three primary techniques of control that are used in various social institutions. Name one of these techniques and provide a brief explanation of its significance.
Options can include: hierarchical observation, normalizing judgement, and examination.
Ex: "hierarchical observation." This technique involves a structured system of surveillance and supervision in which authority figures or institutions monitor individuals closely. It is significant because it allows for the continuous monitoring and control of individuals' behaviors, helping to establish and maintain social norms and power dynamics within various institutions.
Explain Foucault's Concept of Panoptism.
This theory of panopticism is a theory of social control and normalization.