File spoon-archives/foucault.archive/foucault_1999/foucault.9910, message 51


From: "Tom Choi" <tom.choi-AT-worldnet.att.net>
Subject: foucault and colonial contexts (re: diane)
Date: Sun, 17 Oct 1999 21:35:11 -0400


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here's a snippet from foucault's 1978 interview with a japanese zen priest in which foucault briefly discusses philosophy at the end of imperialism:

It is true, European thought finds itself at a turning point.  This turning point, on an historical scale, is nothing other than the end of imperialism.  The crisis of Western thought is identical to the end of imperialism.  The crisis has produced no supreme philosopher who excels in signifying that crisis.  For Western thought in crisis expresses itself by discourses which can be very interesting, but which are neither specific nor extraordinary.  There is no philosopher who marks out this period.  For it is the end of the era of Western philosophy.  Thus, if philosophy of the future existes, it must be born outside of Europe or equally born in consequence of mettings and impacts between Europe and non-Europe.

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with respect to his own work, post-colonialism wasn't so central (he was more interested in the history of western rationality); however, foucault seems to have taken great interest in non-western political activities and thought.  for example, foucault took a keen interest in the iranian revolution for which we have a handful of interviews and essays (both formal and popular/journalistic).  one would think that with respect to "post-colonial theory and politics" foucault, who was always careful not to intrude or 'colonialize' new discourses, would have deliberately remained outside of such movements and activities.  but again, post-colonial reality seems to have been of interest for foucault.

the above quote can be found in the interview "michel foucault and zen" in the recently released "religion and culture: michel foucault, ed. jeremy r. carrette (new york: routledge, 1999).  this book has a handful of newly translated lectures and interviews, some of which are surprisingly illuminating.  it includes a touching preface by james bernauer.  it's well worth checking out. 

tom



HTML VERSION:

here's a snippet from foucault's 1978 interview with a japanese zen priest in which foucault briefly discusses philosophy at the end of imperialism:
 
It is true, European thought finds itself at a turning point.  This turning point, on an historical scale, is nothing other than the end of imperialism.  The crisis of Western thought is identical to the end of imperialism.  The crisis has produced no supreme philosopher who excels in signifying that crisis.  For Western thought in crisis expresses itself by discourses which can be very interesting, but which are neither specific nor extraordinary.  There is no philosopher who marks out this period.  For it is the end of the era of Western philosophy.  Thus, if philosophy of the future existes, it must be born outside of Europe or equally born in consequence of mettings and impacts between Europe and non-Europe.
 
------------
 
with respect to his own work, post-colonialism wasn't so central (he was more interested in the history of western rationality); however, foucault seems to have taken great interest in non-western political activities and thought.  for example, foucault took a keen interest in the iranian revolution for which we have a handful of interviews and essays (both formal and popular/journalistic).  one would think that with respect to "post-colonial theory and politics" foucault, who was always careful not to intrude or 'colonialize' new discourses, would have deliberately remained outside of such movements and activities.  but again, post-colonial reality seems to have been of interest for foucault.
 
the above quote can be found in the interview "michel foucault and zen" in the recently released "religion and culture: michel foucault, ed. jeremy r. carrette (new york: routledge, 1999).  this book has a handful of newly translated lectures and interviews, some of which are surprisingly illuminating.  it includes a touching preface by james bernauer.  it's well worth checking out. 
 
tom
 
 

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