Intellectuals & Power: A conversation between Michel Foucault and Gilles Deleuze, Part 1

[littleumbrellas37]

And Foucault had a giant scar on his head from a police baton to prove it.

[littleumbrellas37]

Unlike almost every other academic on earth, Foucault joined his students when they revolted in France in May '68.

The ignorant only embarrass themselves when they pontificate about matters they haven't bothered to educate themselves about. "Obedient academic robots," indeed.

[littleumbrellas37]

And Michel Foucault might be the poster-child in academia for disobedience. His entire life's work was a critique of power and how it has been central in the formation of concepts that we impose on ourselves, as well as an exhaustive historical tracing of modern institutions from their pre-modern conception (the hospital, the prison, the school, etc.). He reveals how seemingly "neutral" institutions are in fact, the political institutions par excellence.

[JimmiEatCookie]

@littleumbrellas37 Wrong! Foucault wanted to define power, the invisible power. Not to criticize it, but more to make us conscious about power. Making people think their free is a much easier way of controlling them. However he was indeed a rebel by mind and heart, blood and revolution was thrilling. But when all that is said he still didn't not criticize it because, he said power is everywhere. Like the language that we use. The grammar that controls it.

[littleumbrellas37]

What exactly constitutes "obedient academic robot-speak?"  Neither of these would be considered orthodox philosophers in the analytic tradition (which is the current dogma in U.S. universities). Gilles Deleuze may be the best example in the twentieth century of a philosopher who is not "obedient" to the reigning zeitgeist in academia (though France and Europe in general has a much broader appreciation of the scope of philosophy than the sterile nut-cracking of language games so popular here.)

[baroque121]

Obedient academic robots talking obedient academic robot-speak. How 'subversive'! How 'radical' . . . Yawn!