In the later years of his life, Foucault associates his genealogical studies of discourse, institutions and practices to the Kantian ‘ontology of ourselves,’ insisting that they, like Kantian ontology, are focused on something within our present in order to initiate change from within. His reflections on the question of “what our present is?” provide an experience of modernity precisely that aspect of it which is mostly fragile or sensitive at the present time, to permit us to emerge from it as transformed. To put differently, the point is to show that what appears obvious to us from the standpoints of modern scientific, legal and moral discourses is not at all so obvious. This fragility of the present beliefs and practices, Foucault argues, must be grasped in the question “what it is?” and should be attempted to transform by using the desire for freedom. In a similar line, Kant argues that “have courage to use your own understanding” is the motto of enlightenment.
Table of Contents
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III
Research Objectives and Themes
This doctoral proposal investigates the ethical framework in the later works of Michel Foucault, specifically focusing on his return to antiquity to explore the concepts of self-constitution and the aesthetics of existence. It examines how Foucault interprets the transition from modern normative morality to a practice of freedom, aiming to determine whether his genealogical approach to the subject offers a viable philosophy of responsibility and a new role for philosophy in the aesthetisation of politics.
- The genealogy of ethics and the transition from modern morality to the "aesthetics of existence."
- The role of the "care of self" and its relation to the transformation of the individual as a moral agent.
- The interplay between power relations, knowledge, and the self-constitution of the subject.
- The function of correspondence, meditation, and memory in establishing ethical relations with the "other."
- The political implications of a "responsible we" emerging from individual self-fashioning.
Excerpt from the Book
The Relation to Oneself and the Other: Ethics in Michel Foucault
The ‘ontology of the present’ that Immanuel Kant undertakes in “An Answer to the Question: What is Enlightenment?” provokes the presence of a self-imposed immaturity in ourselves, and for that reason he claims that we are yet to have an opportunity to live in an enlightened age – immaturity in the sense that humanity is not yet being equipped with the ability to put its own reason to use without subjecting itself to any authority of the other. “If I have a book to serve as my understanding, a pastor to serve as my conscience, a physician to determine my diet for me, and so on, I need not exert myself at all. I need not think, if only I can pay: others will readily undertake the irksome work for me. The guardians who have so benevolently taken over the supervision of men…regard taking the step to maturity as very dangerous, not to mention difficulty.”
It is interesting to examine, why continental philosophy had to return to antiquity when trying to address the basic question like ethics, freedom and the role of philosophy, rather than exploring them entirely through a problematization of enlightenment. The general disenchantment with the course of the enlightenment project is quite clear in almost all the major figures in continental European philosophy from the post war period – to name few, Gilles Deleuze, Jacques Derrida, Levinas etc. Foucault’s journey to the antiquity, which is materialised in this general intellectual environment of suspicion, opens a problematic of thought, a search for an alternative to the modern western normative-morality in Greek life and practice of ethics. Present study, in general, is intended to examine how this general suspicion is manifested in Foucault’s writing, through a systematic reading of his works, and to evaluate the alternative that his self-reflection proposes.
Summary of Chapters
I: Introduces Foucault’s engagement with Kant’s "ontology of the present" and establishes the necessity of returning to antiquity to address questions of ethics, freedom, and the limitations of modern morality.
II: Details Foucault’s conceptualization of the "end of morality," contrasting modern hermeneutics of self with the ancient "aesthetics of existence," while outlining the four aspects of ethics: ethical substance, mode of subjection, techniques, and aims.
III: Explores the political dimension of the "care of self," focusing on how the relation to the other—mediated through writing, correspondence, and memory—facilitates a responsible form of subjectivity and an alternative to modern confession.
Keywords
Michel Foucault, Aesthetics of Existence, Ethics, Genealogy, Subjectivation, Care of Self, Immanuel Kant, Antiquity, Morality, Power Relations, Responsibility, Philosophy, Modernity, Self-Transformation, Logos.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this research proposal?
The research examines Michel Foucault’s later philosophical work, specifically his shift towards ethics and the "aesthetics of existence" as a response to the perceived limitations of modern western morality.
What are the central thematic fields addressed in this work?
The work focuses on the history of thought, the genealogy of the subject, the transformation of the self, and the political implications of personal ethical practices.
What is the primary research objective?
The objective is to evaluate Foucault’s alternative to modern normative morality by analyzing his interpretation of Greek ethical life and determining if it provides a robust framework for personal and political responsibility.
Which scientific methodology does the author employ?
The author employs a systematic reading and genealogical analysis of Foucault’s primary texts, interviews, and relevant secondary literature to trace the evolution of his ethical conceptualization.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The text covers the shift from modern morality to an "aesthetics of existence," the role of techniques of the self, and the establishment of ethical relations with the "other" through practices like correspondence and meditation.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Foucault, Aesthetics of Existence, Genealogy, Care of Self, Subjectivation, and Philosophy of Responsibility.
How does Foucault differentiate between "morality" and "ethics" in this context?
Foucault treats morality as a system of codes and external rules, whereas ethics refers to the mode of subjectivation—the conscious practice and attitudes an individual adopts in their relation to themselves.
Why does the author argue that Foucault turns back to antiquity?
The return to antiquity is not an act of mere nostalgia, but a strategic effort to revitalize central problems concerning "how we are to live," allowing for a critique of our present and an exploration of freedom from within.
What role does the "other" play in Foucault’s ethics?
The "other" serves as a crucial point of reference, often acting as a teacher or mirror, whose presence and guidance in "soul service" help the individual establish an effective and responsible relation to their own existence.
- Quote paper
- Abhilash G Nath (Author), 2011, The Relation to Oneself and the Other - Ethics in Michel Foucault, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/166666
