Young Foucault: The Lille Manuscripts on Psychopathology, Phenomenology, and Anthropology, 1952-1955

Michel Foucault's early writings on psychology, psychopathology, and anthropology from the mid-1950s have been dismissed as immature, but a recent analysis of his Lille manuscripts by Elisabetta Basso sheds new light on the origins of his philosophical project. Basso explores Foucault's epistemological style and methodology, as well as his philosophical context and scholarly networks, highlighting his relationship to existential psychiatry. The book retraces Foucault's intellectual journey, showing how his early writings provide key insights into his archaeological work of the 1960s.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 22 November 2022
Publisher: Columbia University Press

Before his rise to international fame, Michel Foucault produced a limited number of works in the 1950s. His early writings on psychology, psychopathology, and anthropology have often been dismissed as immature. However, recently discovered manuscripts from the mid-1950s, when Foucault was a lecturer at the University of Lille, reveal the significance of the work he produced in the years leading up to his "archaeological" project, History of Madness.

Elisabetta Basso provides a groundbreaking and comprehensive analysis of Foucault's Lille manuscripts, shedding new light on the origins of his philosophical project. She examines the epistemological style and methodology of these writings, as well as their philosophical context and the scholarly networks in which Foucault was active. Basso highlights Foucault's relationship to existential psychiatry, emphasizing the ways in which his early writings contribute to his archaeological work of the 1960s.

Through a meticulous examination of archival sources, including manuscripts, reading notes, notes for lectures and conferences, and correspondence, Basso reconstructs the first steps of Foucault's intellectual journey. She demonstrates how Foucault's early writings offer crucial insights into his archaeological work, highlighting the transformations and contradictions that characterize his intellectual trajectory. By assembling a vast array of archival materials, this book offers a new and deeper understanding of Foucault's body of work.

In conclusion, Elisabetta Basso's analysis of Foucault's Lille manuscripts is a significant contribution to the study of his intellectual development. By exploring the epistemological style and methodology of his early writings, as well as their philosophical context and scholarly networks, Basso sheds new light on the origins of his "archaeological" project and his relationship to existential psychiatry. This book provides a valuable resource for scholars and students interested in Foucault's work, offering a deeper understanding of his intellectual journey and the significance of his contributions to philosophy and the social sciences.

Weight: 462g
Dimension: 140 x 215 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780231205856