"What Is Critique?" and "The Culture of the Self"

Michel Foucault's lectures on critique, Enlightenment, and the care of the self redefine his philosophical project in light of Kant's "What Is Enlightenment?" This volume presents the first critical edition of this lecture, alongside unpublished lectures and public debates. Foucault establishes a connection between Enlightenment and Greco-Roman antiquity, inviting the audience to build a "new ethics" that bypasses traditional references.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 02 January 2024
Publisher: The University of Chicago Press

Michel Foucault, in a groundbreaking lecture delivered on May 27, 1978, to the French Society of Philosophy, profoundly reshaped his philosophical endeavor by delving into the depths of Immanuel Kant's 1784 text, "What Is Enlightenment?" Foucault's interpretation of critique stands as a political and moral stance that aims to disrupt power dynamics and establish a fertile ground for the emergence of a new self within the realm of "politics of truth." This remarkable volume presents the first critical edition of Foucault's pivotal lecture, complemented by a previously unpublished discourse on the culture of the self, as well as three engaging public debates he held at the University of California, Berkeley, in April 1983. In these discussions, Foucault establishes a direct connection between his reflections on the Enlightenment and his in-depth analyses of Greco-Roman antiquity. However, it is important to note that Foucault does not advocate a return to the ancient culture of the self. Instead, he challenges his audience to embark on a transformative journey by crafting a "new ethics" that transcends traditional references to religion, law, and science. Through his profound insights and thought-provoking arguments, Foucault invites us to explore new horizons of understanding and ethical conduct, paving the way for a more liberated and enlightened society.

Weight: 374g
Dimension: 147 x 226 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780226383446