Foucault

A Very Short Introduction

By: Gary Gutting

Narrated by: David de Vries

Born in 1926 in France, Foucault is one of those rare philosophers who has become a cult figure. Over the course of his life he dabbled in drugs, politics, and the Paris SM scene, all while striving to understand the deep concepts of identity, knowledge, and power. From aesthetics to the penal system, from madness and civilization to avant-garde literature, Foucault was happy to reject old models of thinking and replace them with versions that are still widely debated today. A major influence on queer theory and gender studies (he was openly gay and died of an AIDS-related illness in 1984), he also wrote on architecture, history, law, medicine, literature, politics, and of course philosophy.

In this Very Short Introduction audiobook, Gary Gutting presents a wide-ranging but nonsystematic exploration of some highlights of Foucault's life and thought. Beginning with a brief biography to set the social and political stage, he then tackles Foucault's thoughts on literature, in particular the avant-garde scene; his philosophical and historical work; his treatment of knowledge and power in modern society; and his thoughts on sexuality. This new edition includes feminist criticisms of Foucault's apparently sexist treatment of the Jouy case, as well as a new chapter offering a unified overview of the College de France lectures, now a major focus of interest in Foucault.

©2005 Gary Gutting (P)2021 Tantor

VSI # 122

A good summary of Foucault told by sequentially examining his major (and some minor works). Gutting examines Foucault’s histories as Foucault writes them: archaeologies &/or genealogies of knowledge. He examines his life (briefly), his influences, and his changing politics.

I’ve approached him through piecemeal reading of his major works, but this VSI does a good job of placing them in time and providing a pretty good understanding of Foucault’s approach and raison d’être.

Good after the start.

Very good once you get past the impressionistic opening, which may be incomprehensible to those lacking any aquaintance with Fuocault. Assumes basic knowledge of the history of Western philosophy.