Enlightenment contra humanism : Michel Foucault's critical history of thought
In this dissertation I claim that Michel Foucault is a pro-enlightenment philosopher. I argue that his critical history of thought cultivates a state of being autonomous in thought and action which is indicative of a kantian notion of maturity. In addition, I contend that, because he follows a nietzschean path to enlightenment, Foucaultâs elaboration of freedom proceeds from his critique of who we are, which includes a rejection of humanismâs experiential limits. At the same time, and perhaps most importantly, I also suggest that Foucault articulates a posthumanist conception of finitude and being. To begin with, I show that on humanismâs path to edghtenment, which is established by Rousseau, Kant and Hegel and currently advocated by Rawls and Taylor, a philosophy of the autonomous subject who desires self-actualisation through recogrution precedes the epistemologcal and political critiques which generate humanismâs objective, normative and subjective axes of experience. On the basis of Foucaultâs archzological, genealogical and, when they operate together, critical historical critiques of these conditions of possibility for autonomy and recogrution, I maintain that humanism fails to teach us how
Dalgliesh, Bregham
philosophy ; pro-enlightenment philosopher ; posthumanist conception ; self-actualisation ; anormative critique
Enlightenment contra humanism : Michel Foucault's critical history of thought. In this dissertation I claim that Michel Foucault is a pro-enlightenment philosopher. I argue that his critical history of thought cultivates a state of being autonomous in thought and action which is indicative of a kantian notion of maturity. In addition, I contend that, because he follows a nietzschean path to enlightenment, Foucaultâs elaboration of freedom proceeds from his critique of who we are, which includes a rejection of humanismâs experiential limits. At the same time, and perhaps most importantly, I also suggest that Foucault articulates a posthumanist conception of finitude and being. To begin with, I show that on humanismâs path to edghtenment, which is established by Rousseau, Kant and Hegel and currently advocated by Rawls and Taylor, a philosophy of the autonomous subject who desires self-actualisation through recogrution precedes the epistemologcal and political critiques which generate humanismâs objective, normative and subjective axes of experience. On the basis of Foucaultâs archzological, genealogical and, when they operate together, critical historical critiques of these conditions of possibility for autonomy and recogrution, I maintain that humanism fails to teach us how
enlightenment contra humanism michel_foucault critical_history thought claim michel_foucault pro enlightenment philosopher argue critical_history think state autonomous think_action indicative kantian notion maturity addition contend follow nietzschean path enlightenment foucault elaboration freedom proceeds critique include rejection humanism experiential limit time perhaps importantly also_suggest foucault articulates conception finitude begin show humanism path establish rousseau kant_hegel currently advocate rawls taylor philosophy autonomous subject desire self precedes political critique generate humanism objective normative subjective experience basis foucault genealogical operate together critical historical critique condition_possibility autonomy maintain humanism fail teach