tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474822155726017607.post3836263411646871942..comments2023-04-03T18:40:42.735+09:00Comments on The Caffeinated Symposium: Foucault and Psychiatry--Comments on MADNESS AND CIVILIZATIONDave Cesaranohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01454928720043301400noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474822155726017607.post-65569139148107635582015-06-22T16:05:22.570+09:002015-06-22T16:05:22.570+09:00It's been several years since I read Madness &...It's been several years since I read Madness & Civilisation, so my thoughts may be a bit off, so apologies in advance.<br /><br />The key point to Foucault for me (reading mainly Madness & Civilisation and Discipline & Punish) is that power is an emergent property of social systems, which shifts from system to system in accordance with changes the power structure. This is entirely not to do with any truth or rationality in the system itself, which is why the presentations given are so distinct. They are not causally connected, but rather through the shifting of power dynamics within any given society. This is also another reason he uses the term "archaeology" (at least, to me), as opposed to "geneaology" - the ideas and structures of particular periods are not causally descended from one another, but rather pieced together by people using cultural artefacts as reference points.<br /><br />However, the spin I had on it (from my philosophy professors as well as my friends) was that power as an emergent property was not a necessarily malevolent thing that needed overthrowing, just a fact of how society functioned. What would need to happen in such a scheme is for multiple power structures to be able to coexist. Whether this is possible I'm not sure, but it would require the current power-brokers and definers of reality (the same thing) to acquiesce to that change. Not very likely. But, as you point out, it is rather telling that he casts philosophers in this role, which people have done since Plato.Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03267314301338868526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-474822155726017607.post-70340786155035682932014-06-15T23:34:11.755+09:002014-06-15T23:34:11.755+09:00Thank you very much for writing such an interestin...Thank you very much for writing such an interesting article on this topic. This has really made me think and I hope to read more.<br /> <a href="http://westcoastlifecenter.com" rel="nofollow">best psychiatrists in Los Angeles</a>Ramiz Razahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09941047122119668254noreply@blogger.com