Michel Foucault – The Subject and Power

In 'Knowledge and Power', George Gilder presents a bold new theory on how capitalism produces wealth, emphasizing the role of information and entrepreneurial knowledge. He argues that government intervention can hinder economic growth by obscuring vital information needed for decision-making. The book advocates for a return to free market capitalism to revitalize the economy.

In 'The Birth of the Clinic,' Michel Foucault examines the transformation of medical perception and practice during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He introduces the concept of the 'medical gaze,' a new way of observing and interpreting the body that shifted from theoretical constructs to direct observation and examination. Foucault argues that this shift was not merely an improvement in medical knowledge but a fundamental change in the structures of knowledge itself, reflecting broader societal and power changes. The book critiques traditional histories of medicine, highlighting how the clinic became a site of pedagogy and power, where the transmission of knowledge was tied to the practice of observation and the examination of the body. Foucault also explores the socio-political implications of these changes, including the objectification of the patient and the increasing authority of medical professionals.

In 'Madness and Civilization,' Michel Foucault analyzes the historical development of the concept of madness in Europe from the late Middle Ages to the end of the 18th century. The book critiques the idea of history and the historical method, particularly focusing on how social structures, laws, politics, philosophy, and medicine have influenced the perception and treatment of insanity. Foucault explores the transition from a time when the mad were integrated into everyday life to the era when they were confined in asylums, highlighting the 'Great Confinement' and the emergence of the asylum as a new institution. The work also delves into the philosophical and cultural shifts that led to the modern understanding of madness and its separation from reason.

Michel Foucault's "Discipline and Punish" is a seminal work in social theory that examines the evolution of punishment and its relationship to power. Foucault traces the shift from public executions to more subtle forms of disciplinary control in modern societies. He argues that power operates not only through repression but also through the normalization of behavior. The book's analysis of surveillance, discipline, and the creation of docile bodies has had a profound impact on various fields, including criminology, sociology, and literary studies. It remains a crucial text for understanding the workings of power in contemporary society.