Limits, liminality and the present : towards a Foucauldian ontology of social criticism
Through a series of critical interventions in contemporary political thought, utilising the concept of liminality, this thesis points towards a Foucauldian ontology of the conditions necessary for social criticism. Beginning with a critical investigation of Foucault's archaeological and genealogical works (chapter one) the idea that Foucault's ~analytic of the limit~ provides sufficient grounding for a critical theory of society is challenged. While Foucault's approach contains many insights into the character of social relations it ultimately embodies a problematic transcendental conception of the present. It is argued that Foucault's early works require an ~analytic of liminality~ if this problem is to be avoided. Chapters two, three and four serve the following functions: firstly, they explore the concept of liminality as a feature of (respectively) the present, the self and everyday speech acts; secondly, they are critical interrogations of non-Foucauldian accounts of social criticism - from neo-Marxism and postmodernism, through communitarianism to critical theory; thirdly, they introduce a series of concepts that are sensitive to the ~paradoxical~ condition of liminality thereby suggesting the themes
Mackenzie, Iain Murdo
H Social Sciences (General)
Limits, liminality and the present : towards a Foucauldian ontology of social criticism. Through a series of critical interventions in contemporary political thought, utilising the concept of liminality, this thesis points towards a Foucauldian ontology of the conditions necessary for social criticism. Beginning with a critical investigation of Foucault's archaeological and genealogical works (chapter one) the idea that Foucault's ~analytic of the limit~ provides sufficient grounding for a critical theory of society is challenged. While Foucault's approach contains many insights into the character of social relations it ultimately embodies a problematic transcendental conception of the present. It is argued that Foucault's early works require an ~analytic of liminality~ if this problem is to be avoided. Chapters two, three and four serve the following functions: firstly, they explore the concept of liminality as a feature of (respectively) the present, the self and everyday speech acts; secondly, they are critical interrogations of non-Foucauldian accounts of social criticism - from neo-Marxism and postmodernism, through communitarianism to critical theory; thirdly, they introduce a series of concepts that are sensitive to the ~paradoxical~ condition of liminality thereby suggesting the themes
present towards foucauldian ontology social criticism series critical intervention contemporary political_thought utilise concept point_towards foucauldian ontology condition necessary social_criticism beginning critical investigation foucault archaeological genealogical work idea foucault analytic limit provide_sufficient ground critical_theory society challenge foucault contain many insight character social_relation ultimately embody problematic transcendental conception present argue foucault early_work require analytic problem avoid three_four serve follow function firstly explore concept feature respectively present self everyday speech_act secondly critical interrogation non foucauldian account social_criticism neo marxism postmodernism critical_theory thirdly introduce series concept sensitive paradoxical condition thereby suggest theme