Erratic Thinking was a radio show and podcast that each week discussed contemporary philosophical issues with prominent philosophers. It was broadcast in 2010, but there are plans to update the website and do a new series of the show in the future.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Foucault and Power

Michel Foucault was one of the most important philosophers/social theorists of the twentieth century. In this weeks Erratic Thinking we will be discussing how he conceives of power relations within society; how he advocates a move away from a conception of power in terms of sovereignty to a conception of power as all pervasive and totalizing within society.

Joining me to discuss Foucaut's conception of power and how it impacts on other areas of philosophy and social theory is special guest presenter Ivan Korolev and Lecturer of Social History at Edinburgh University Dr Louise Jackson.

You can download/listen to the show by clicking on the link below:

Foucault and Power Show

If you want know any more about the subject Dr Jackson has kindly recommended the following reading:

Foucault, M. (1977) Discipline and Punish: the Birth of the Prison

Foucault, M. (1980) 'The Eye of Power' in C. Gordon ed. Power/Knowledge: Selected Interviews and Other Writing by Michel Foucault

Foucault, M. (1978) The History of Sexuality, Vol. 1

Also if you have access to a University of Edinburgh 'EASE' account you might also find the following documetry on Fouacult's life interesting:

The Late Show: Michael Foucault: Beyond Good and Evil
(broadcast 29/06/93 at 23.15 - 23.55pm)

Ivan has also recommended this more lighthearted approach to thought on Foucault's life:

Kung Foucault

Next week is the last Erratic Thinking of the current series (and possibly ever); on it I will be comparing Hegel and Nietzsche's contrasting philosophical techniques and asking whether they start two irreconcilable methods of philosophy, joining me to discuss the issue will be Dr Dom Smith of Dundee University. If you have any questions for Dr Smith leave them below, if not you can listen live next Friday at 12 30 (freshair.org.uk) or download it, as always, from here.

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