Foucault in 90 Minutes

Philosophers in 90 Minutes #7

by Paul Strathern

In Foucault in 90 Minutes, Paul Strathern offers a concise, expert account of Foucaults life and ideas, and explains their influence on mans struggle to understand his existence in the world. The book also includes selections from Foucaults writings; a brief list of suggested reading for those who wish to push further; and chronologies that place Foucault within his own age and in the broader scheme of philosophy.

Genres: Philosophy, Nonfiction, Biography, History, Audiobook, Reference, Sociology

95 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Paul Strathern (born 1940) is a English writer and academic. He was born in London, and studied at Trinity College, Dublin, after which he served in the Merchant Navy over a period of two years. He then lived on a Greek island. In 1966 he travelled overland to India and the Himalayas. His novel A Season in Abyssinia won a Somerset Maugham Award in 1972.

Besides five novels, he has also written numerous books on science, philosophy, history, literature, medicine and economics.

Reviews

[فؤاد · Rating 3 out of 5]

اولين چيزى كه از فوكو خوندم. و به خاطر همين، ضعف اين مجموعه آشكار شد. انديشه هاى يك فيلسوف رو ساده و جامع توضيح نميده، خيلى پراكنده و نصفه نيمه و در ضمن زندگى اون فيلسوف بهشون مى پردازه.

[Tuğçe Kozak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Başlayalım bakalım Foucault okumaya.

[Adriana Scarpin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aparentementemente seria um bom caminho introdutório a Foucault, pinçando aspectos da vida e obra do mesmo, mas o tom moralista quanto às práticas sexuais de Foucault é completamente intolerável, chegando a chamá-las de anormais, o comentário rasteiro sobre a constituição dos volumes da História da Sexualidade tampouco ajuda.

[Onur Y · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kitap, Foucault’yu tanıtma işlevini yerine getiriyor fakat yazar, Foucault ve onun cinsel aktivitelerini neden bu kadar yargılıyor anlamış değilim. Madem yargılayacaksın o zaman böyle düşünürleri tanıtan bir kitap serisinde Foucault’ya yer verme. 15 dakikamı çaldın, Paul Strathern.

[Amene · Rating 3 out of 5]

خلاصه و فشرده بود،از نوع کتاب‌های دائرة‌المعارفی مرسوم.برای فتح باب آشنایی با فوکو خوب بود.

[Osama · Rating 4 out of 5]

اهتم الفيلسوف الفرنسي ميشيل فوكو بدراسة تأثير التاريخ والظروف الاجتماعية والسياسية على نشأة الأفكار الفلسفية. واهتم بالبحث في العلاقة بين السلطة والمعرفة.
نشأ فوكو في ظل أسرة ميسورة الحال في ظروف عادية ورغم ذكاءه إلا أنه لم يكن متميزا دراسيا، وشهد في مراهقته الحرب العالمية الثانية وغزو هتلر لفرنسا. وخلال دراسته الجامعية في باريس واجه مشكلات كثيرة تتعلق بميوله الجنسية انعكست على شعوره بالاكتئاب والميول الانتحارية والاسراف في تعاطي الكحول والمخدرات والعدوانية تجاه زملاءه. وعوض ذلك القلق من خلال الانغماس في قراءة الفلسفة والتاريخ.

ملخص أفكار ميشيل فوكو حول تحليل الخطاب

ثلاث أفكار أساسيةأساسية تناولها فوكو وهي الخطاب والسلطة والمراقبة.
الخطاب هو (حديث الأفكار) الذي نصارع من أجله وما نصارع به.
خطاب الإنسان وما به من أفكار هي أداة التغيير أو التدمير.
يتضمن الخطاب بشكل عام الحديث والنص والأدب والإعلام والمحتوى الديني والعلمي وغيرها.
الخطاب له هدف إخبار بمعلومة أو الإقناع بفكرة أو تغيير مفهوم ما.
الخطاب غالبا يؤدي إلى صراع بين الجهات المختلفة حسب ما تتبناه من فكر ومدى تمتعها أو حرمانها من السلطة. 
من يملك السلطة يسعى إلى فرض خطابه على الآخرين. 
المنع، القسمة والرفض، الحقيقة والخطاب هي إجراءات الخطاب.
هناك سياق معين للخطاب وكذلك محرمات وتابوهات ومنع من الأفراد والمجتمع أو الدولة.
هناك خطاب عقلي منطقي وهناك خطاب الحمق والجنون. 
التمييز بين الحقيقة والخطأ مرتبط بعوارض تاريخية قابلة للمراجعة وهي نسبية قابلة للخطأ.
الخطاب السائد كحقيقة يرتبط بقوة فرض السلطة له.
الحقيقة لها أنواع نبوية، فلسفية، علمية.
المعرفة الممسوخة وتبعثر الخطاب.
جمعيات الخطاب وحق الامتياز - شرط الحق في الخطاب يكون من قبل الشخص المتخصص لكي يكون ذو معنى.
تأطير الخطاب ضمن الخطوط العريضة للمذهب الديني أو الفلسفي أو السياسي.
التربية المجتمعية كنوع من التملك الاجتماعي للخطاب تسمح للفرد بالانخراط في الخطاب وكذلك منعه أو تعديله
السلطة تسيطر على الفن والسياسة والعلم وبها نوع من الصراع بين الخطابات
يسعى فوكو إلى البحث عن جذور وتنقيب الأفكار ونشأتها وتطورها وانتشارها واندثارها واستبدالها.
تحليل الخطاب أداة بحثية هامة لنقد الأفكار. 
مشكلة المثقف ليس نقد المباديء الاديولوجية ولكن هل يمكن أن ينشأ سياسة حقيقية ليس هدفها تغيير وعي الناس ولكن تطوير النظام السياسي والاجتماعي والثقافي والاقتصادي.

[Gunnar · Rating 1 out of 5]

Soon to be seen on National Geographic!!

Foucault as read from some randomly collected resymés of life and writings -and then filtered through the authorship of cultured prejudices and a Master degree in philosophy.

[Linds Sloan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very breezy and entertaining, but definitely not Foucault in 90 minutes. Also, the author's clear dislike and lack of respect for Foucault as a speaker colored most of the book.

[Wilier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Focault en 90 minutos podemos tener una idea clara del pensamiento de este filosofo y psicólogo francés con bastante precisión, me encanta la forma sencilla, directa y al grano en el que nos presentan al autor.

Conocemos sus opiniones respecto al sistema penitenciario modernos, sus dudas sobre el método científico de la Psicología y también sus mas bajos momentos personales. Nuevamente esta serie vuelve a darme una buena sensación.

[Kathrina · Rating 2 out of 5]

power/knowledge, episteme, madness, classification, genealogy, prisons, sex, sex, sex.

--Foucault in 9 words.

[hossein Babadi · Rating 4 out of 5]

تا قبل از این کتاب آشنایی با اندیشه ها و نظریات فوکو نداشتم فقط میدونستم زمان انقلاب به ایران اومده و تحت تاثیر معنویت و روحانیون انقلاب قرار گرفته
در مجموع جهت آشنایی با زندگی شخصی و اندیشه های فوکو متفکر جنجالی قرن بیستم کتاب خوبیه و علاقه مند شدم کتاب تاریخ جنون (دیوانگی و تمدن) و دیگر نوشته های فوکو رو بخونم

[pablo! · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dudaba de si darle 3 estrellas por si acaso albergaba si quiera algo de valor pedagógico. No es el caso. Conocimiento superficial de la obra de Foucault y obsesiva fijación por su vida sexual que, dicho sea de paso, trata siempre desde el desprecio.

Ni recomendable ni entretenido

[Mikael Cerbing · Rating 3 out of 5]

An alright overview of Focaults life. The author misses a few key points in Focaults thinking such as self-disciplin of the individual and the creativness in power relationships. The author is also a bit to occupied (and disapproving) in Foucalts sexuality for me to really take him serious. It smells of old school freudianism.
3 stars might be a bit liberal, but then again its impossible to write a thought biograpghy this short. So, an ok introduction.

[Anuraag Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Will read Madness and Civilization. Maybe.

[Àngel Pujol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un pensador diferente, muy interesante su concepto de verdad, si esta realmente existe.
Colección muy buena para introducirse en los autores.

[Mateo]

Foucault in 3hrs if you get distracted easily.

[Marea sdp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muy buena introducción a Foucault. Me gusta que el autor dialogue críticamente con el pensador, a veces con demasiado machaque incluso diría yo, y que todo se derive de una trayectoria vital que pone en contexto el cuerpo teórico foucaultiano.

[Cid Medeiros · Rating 3 out of 5]

O objetivo da série 90 minutos é proporcionar uma abordagem rápida do pensamento de vários autores. Dessa forma, não havia muita expectativa no sentido de compreender a completude de Foucault. Contudo, apesar do bom valor como entretenimento, acredito que a filosofia de Foucault poderia ter sido um pouco mais explorada se o autor não tivesse se chocado tão demasiadamente com a vida sexual do filósofo francês. De qualquer modo, é uma leitura recomendável para se ter uma alguma noção sobre o filósofo do saber/poder.

[Sagar Jethani · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful summary. Confirmed my suspicion that Foucault is completely overrated—less a philosopher and more a pop icon for the left. Why do postmodernists make the same error in interpreting the potential of knowledge to be corrupted as evidence that knowledge does not exist? It is one thing for Kuhn and Foucault to argue that modes of thought are necessarily limited by the historical periods in which they reside; it is another thing altogether to say that objective reality is therefore an illusion and that we are awash in a sea of relative truths.

[Vicky · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not exactly an impartial intro to Foucault! But I didn't know a lot of his personal stuff hence the three stars. Also worth it for occasional comedy value in his descriptions of Foucault cruising head to toe in leather and of Louis Althusser writing his memoirs - 'admitted he hadn't actually read that much Marx' hehe

[#DÏ4B7Ø Chinnamasta-Bhairav · Rating 4 out of 5]

~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
~}-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-{~
~}--- :}|{:-:}|{:- * FOLLOW 4 FOLLOW * -:}|{:-:}|{: ---{~
~}-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-{~
~}--------:}|{:-:}|{:- * LINKS * -:}|{:-:}|{:----------{~
~}-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-{~
~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~
***********************************************

~} * -:}|{}|{:=:}|{}|{:- * Foucault Philosophy in an Hour (Audiobook) * -:}|{}|{:=:}|{}|{:- * {~
* -} {- *

~} * -:}|{}|{:=:}|{}|{:- * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRoC1... * -:}|{}|{:=:}|{}|{:- * {~

* -:}|{}|{:=:}|{}|{:- *

* -:}|{}|{:- ^ AUDIOBOOK ^ -:}|{}|{:- *

~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~

~}-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-{~

~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~

* -:}|{}|{:- * SUMMARY * -:}|{}|{:- *

~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~

* -:}|{:- * RATING * -:}|{:- * 8.5/10 * -:}|{:- *

~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~

* -:}|{}|{: =EXPERIENCES=&=DISCERNMENTS= :}|{}|{:- *

* -:}|{}|{: = the best part is @ the end - where the last quotes = express the unfoldment of said persons life = in a way that = is in its own way very transcendent = as he talks about the most pleasurable moments of his life is being hit by a car while on opium = so far its the most unquie philosophy in 1 hour )( = }|{}|{:- *

~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~

* -} https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VWrl... {- *

* -:}|{}|{:=:}|{}|{:- *

* -} Gestalt Psychology Simplified with Examples and Principles {- *

* -:}|{}|{: = MY SYNTHESISED ( ^ GESTALT ^ ) OF THE * -:}|{}|{:=:}|{}|{:- * ( WAY THE AUTHOR FRAMES = HIS WRITING PERSPECTIVES ) & ( POINTERS & IMPLICATIONS = the conclusion that can be drawn IMPLICITYLY from something although it is not EXPLICITLY stated ) = :}|{}|{:- *

* -:}|{}|{: = when he released his third volume on the evolution of sex through time & weeks later died of aids = shows the true levels of this mans commitment = 2 the greater good ;) degeneracy of the times = i imagine the wide array of conservative folk @ the time would have gotten a weird kick out of how that unfolded )( also theres a moment in this where fisting & golden showers in bath houses in califioarnia is mentioned as an esoteric practice :O genuily absurd but @ the same time maybe theres sometimg im missing in terms of the definition of said word =
adjective
1. intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest = }|{}|{:- *

~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~

~}-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-{~

~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~

To SEE a WORLD in a Grain of Sand,
And a HEAVEN in a Wild Flower,
Hold INFINITY in the palm of your hand
And ETERNITY in an Hour"
~ William Blake ~

~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~

“Wisdom tells me I am nothing. Love tells me I am everything. And between the two my life flows.” Nisargadatta Maharaj

~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~

Form is Emptiness; Emptiness is form.
Form is not different than Emptiness;
Emptiness is not different than form
~ Heart Sutra ~

Like the ocean and its waves,
inseparable yet distinct

~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~

" I and The Father are one,
I am The Truth,
The Life and The Path.”

Like a river flowing from its source,
connected and continuous

~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~

Thy kingdom come.
Let the reign of divine
Truth, Life, and Love
be established in me,
and rule out of me all sin;
and may Thy Word
enrich the affections of all mankind

A mighty oak tree standing firm against the storm,
As sunlight scatters the shadows of night
A river nourishing the land it flows through

~}- - - - - - - - - - - - - -:}|{:- - - - - - - - - - - - - -{~

~}-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-:}|{:-{~

[Theo Milos · Rating 1 out of 5]

Foucault was a French philosopher that lived during the 1900s. He was gay and a teacher. Later on, he became more political active. Also, his sense of style with a turte neck, jacket, glasses and a bald head became famous. Everyone knew who he was, partly because of this.

Had impact on science and our view on it. Foucault founeded episteme, the possibility that the sphere of knowledge could be extended or modified. Most things are not for certain. Knowledge are unstable, and linked to power. Inspired by Nietzsche's Will and Power, and meant that you can become influential if you know much. However, Faucault saw that power did not reside in induviduals but instead in social relations.

Did not learn that much, and this verision was worse than other books by the same author in the series.

[John Reis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good introduction to Michel Foucault’s life and thought. Strathern provides a sketch of his early life and also his lifelong partnership with Daniel Defert.

Strathern is sympathetic to Foucault’s archaeology (examination) of the assumptions and prejudices mind-sets that structure a particular age or people. He is critical though of Foucault’s often oversimplifications and cherry-picking. He is critical of Foucault’s depiction of the Renaissance and his claim that the concept of man only came about in the 18th century.

Strathern is also critical of Foucault’s depiction of the author as non-existent, because an author is simply a bundle of life experiences and picked up notions and ideas. “So the idea of a non-existent author must presumably have come from a non-existent author.”

There are no cheap shots or attempts at ridicule launched at Foucault.

[Ville Verkkapuro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I couldn't call this a book. But it was entertaining.
Foucault was an interesting character.
Both his personal life and his way of looking at the world seem to be breaking norms.
Pick up lessons from history, learn from them and be inspired to look from a different angle. Progress is not always linear.
For example: the modern prison system seems way more progressive than the olden ways when people were hung or decapitated on public squares. However, when you think about it, the people had a forum to rebel, they could symphatize with the victim and judge the executioner. Nowadays everything is happening behind closed doors.
Learn. Build windows where there was walls, as Foucault says.
Question!

[Carlos Alberto · Rating 3 out of 5]

8/10
‘’Foucault em 90 minutos ‘’ escrito por Paul Strathern faz parte da coletânea ‘’90 minutos’’ do qual o autor resume a vida, historia e obra de pensadores, filósofos e cientistas em uma leitura que, no planejamento, teria o tempo de 90 minutos. É um ótimo agregado para uma coleção sobre um determinado autor e pode ser usado como fonte de pesquisa devido ao trabalho biográfico impecável de Strathern. O livro funciona também como uma introdução ao Pensador que ele aborda, lhe dando ideias e paramentos dos quis este concordava em vida.
Gostei do molde do livro, pretendo ler mais da série. Achei bacana saber que Foucalt era gay e participava de passeatas e movimentos que incluíam a diversidade de pessoas nas universidades e nos centros acadêmicos franceses. Minha perspectiva sobre sua pesquisa relacionado a criação, uso, dissipação e controle do Poder se reformou em minha análise. Recomendo a leitura.

[Amelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strantham keeps his trademark distain for philosophers somewhat at bay when examining Foucault. Enjoyed a more streamlined and factual account of the philosopher.

Favorite Quotes:

"Man needs what is most evil in him to achieve what is best in him... the secret of harvesting the greatest fruitfulness and the greatest enjoyment from existence is to -live dangerously.- (Neitzche)"

"Power now becomes a "technology": it is the technique by which a society regulates its members. The modern individual was created amidst this plethora of rules and regulations. In many ways he created himself in reaction to these restraints."

[Don Dealga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant concise and incisive little book presenting a cogent overview of Foucault, his life, career, and legacy integrated with accounts and analysis of his main ideas and works. This short (57 pages) volume also manages to contextualize Focault's ouvre in its historical context as well as exploring the main intellectual influences (primarily Nietzsche) on Focault's thought. Highly recommended for anyone seeking an understanding of Foucault's main ideas and his impact on modern/ contemporary philosophy.

[Niklas Zenius Jespersen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Udmærket intro til, og kritik, af Foucaults teorier og liv. Hørte den som supplement til at læse Foucault på studiet. Men efterlader mig med min forud indstilling af at Foucaults teorier er faktuelt forkerte, metodisk dybt problematiske og grundlæggende ret ubrugelige (de bedre ideer er allerede formuleret bedre af Gramsci.). Mit indtryk er fortsat at Foucault kun er interesant fordi han har påvirket andres tænkning, ikke fordi han bidrager med ret meget reelt nyttigt.

[Flo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ehmm okay... It gave a brief overview of his life and works but it was extremely coloured by the opinion of the author. At times it felt like I was reading a gossip magazine that just went over all the 'scandalous' sexcapades of Michel Foucault. It felt very Freudian. It did teach me more about his life and it will be interesting to start reading primary literature of Foucault now, but mannnn the way this was brought wasn't it.

[Alexander Lopez]

Toda esta serie de libros está hecha para solo adentrarse un poco (muy poco) sobre estos diferentes autores. Es interesante y muy fácil de leer, pero no hay mucho más allá que una muy leve introducción.