Foucault: Autonomy in Power

In this course we will examine the philosophy of Michel Foucault in order to develop a deeper understanding of what it would be to live a genuinely free life. To this end, we will consider the three main phases of Foucault’s career —corresponding to the analysis of discursive and epistemological practices, political and institutional practices, and ethical and spiritual practice— as successive stages of a lifelong systematic attempt to determine whether living freely requires breaking away from traditional ways of thinking and of being, and whether and how independent from tradition might be possible. 3 hrs. Sem.