Beyond the social and political : a synthesis of the political theories of Hannah Arendt and Michael Foucault
This thesis argues for a move beyond the division of contemporary western experiences into separate social and political spheres. This includes a comparative study of the theories of Hannah Arendt and Michel Foucault alongside historical and contemporary examples in support of the relevance of their theories and that of this thesis. The synthesis between Arendt and Foucault made here corrects the respective weaknesses in each theory by using the strengths of the other. Furthermore, this synthesis informs a move beyond the social and political referred to above. The critique of sovereignty, the defence of plurality and the critique of instrumental reason are shown here as the most important parallels between the two thinkers and the central ways that people in contemporary western society are disempowered. This thesis argues for a reconsideration of these issues in order to redress this disempowerment. The thesis also looks at the major divergence between the two thinkers which is shown to rest on their respective treatment of the social and political. This argument rejects the Arendtian argument for the separation of the social and political to favour Foucauldian resistance located on and within the everyday
Edwards, Claire Jane
B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion
Beyond the social and political : a synthesis of the political theories of Hannah Arendt and Michael Foucault. This thesis argues for a move beyond the division of contemporary western experiences into separate social and political spheres. This includes a comparative study of the theories of Hannah Arendt and Michel Foucault alongside historical and contemporary examples in support of the relevance of their theories and that of this thesis. The synthesis between Arendt and Foucault made here corrects the respective weaknesses in each theory by using the strengths of the other. Furthermore, this synthesis informs a move beyond the social and political referred to above. The critique of sovereignty, the defence of plurality and the critique of instrumental reason are shown here as the most important parallels between the two thinkers and the central ways that people in contemporary western society are disempowered. This thesis argues for a reconsideration of these issues in order to redress this disempowerment. The thesis also looks at the major divergence between the two thinkers which is shown to rest on their respective treatment of the social and political. This argument rejects the Arendtian argument for the separation of the social and political to favour Foucauldian resistance located on and within the everyday
beyond social_political synthesis political_theory foucault argue move_beyond division contemporary_western experience separate social_political sphere include comparative_study theory michel_foucault alongside historical_contemporary example support relevance_theory thesis synthesis foucault make respective weakness theory use strengths other furthermore synthesis informs move_beyond social_political refer above critique sovereignty defence plurality critique instrumental_reason show important parallel thinker central way_people contemporary_western society argues reconsideration issue order redress also_look major divergence thinker show rest respective treatment social_political argument reject argument separation social_political favour foucauldian resistance locate_within everyday