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Philosophy, French History & Studies, Political Science
From Library Journal
This original and important study argues that Foucault approached philosophy as a skeptic, rejecting Kant's attempt of providing a rationally indubitable justification of our claims to knowledge. Instead, Foucault believed that there have been many different systems of supposed ``knowledge'' in the course of history, each with essentially arbitrary postulates. Foucault's position here resembles the theories of earlier philosophers, e.g., Peirce's fallibilism. Its genuine novelty, Rajchman ably brings out, is to show with a wealth of concrete detail how such systems of knowledge have arisen in fields such as the histories of sexuality and punishment. In so doing, Foucault is especially concerned to stress the fashion in which a group's struggle for power determines the postulates it accepts as seemingly unquestionable truths. Recommended. David Gordon, Cato Inst., Washington, D.C.
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Philosophy, French History & Studies, Political Science
From Library Journal
This original and important study argues that Foucault approached philosophy as a skeptic, rejecting Kant's attempt of providing a rationally indubitable justification of our claims to knowledge. Instead, Foucault believed that there have been many different systems of supposed ``knowledge'' in the course of history, each with essentially arbitrary postulates. Foucault's position here resembles the theories of earlier philosophers, e.g., Peirce's fallibilism. Its genuine novelty, Rajchman ably brings out, is to show with a wealth of concrete detail how such systems of knowledge have arisen in fields such as the histories of sexuality and punishment. In so doing, Foucault is especially concerned to stress the fashion in which a group's struggle for power determines the postulates it accepts as seemingly unquestionable truths. Recommended. David Gordon, Cato Inst., Washington, D.C.
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc.
