Date: Wed, 18 Jul 2001 11:26:33 +1000 (EST) From: =?iso-8859-1?q?cameron=20duff?= <cameronduff-AT-yahoo.com.au> Subject: Foucault and the problem of argument As they say in the classics, 'long time listener first time caller'... after maintaining a certain passivity with respect of this on-line discussion group I feel compelled to intervene in the list's consideration of the problem of nationalism and the recent history of the Balkins. First, I wish to commend Dr Stuart Elden for his efforts over a very long time in drawing participants back to the analysis of Foucault's primary texts and the range of debates and polemics that have emerged from this body of work. I lot of what passes for serious debate on this list appears to feature some very idiosyncratic interpretations of Foucault's core arguments and whilst naturally one should encourage the application and development of Foucault's genealogies I believe such a project should start from honest and charitable exegesis and explication of Foucault's principal works. Dr Elden has been tireless in his efforts in encouraging list participants to return to these basic epistemological and pedagogical principles and I for one look forward to his contributions to the on-going development of Foucault's thought. Now before you accuse me of sycophancy, I know there are many, many participants on this list who maintain a very strict and sober propriety with respect of this task. Nonetheless, I suppose I have felt impelled to draw our collective attention to the importance of this most basic feature of good scholarship given the recent cacophony of outrage upon the postings of Mr Jivko Georgiev. Now I know very little of the complex history of the region, so I wont comment on some of the vissisitudes of recent postings on the subject. And, of course, Jivko has every right to offer his own rather unique interpretation of Foucault's work; afterall, the list exists to encourage foucauldian scholarship and open debate. Want I do want to do is echo Dr Elden's consistent calls for more careful and dare I say scholarly appraisal of Foucault's writings. It is so tiresome to read yet another bewildering treatment of what Foucault 'really meant'. Whilst none of us holds the patent on the true and incontrovertible essence of the foucauldian oeuvre I believe we all need to remain cautious, humble and resolute in this great collective enterprise of foucauldian inquiry. Without wishing to sound like yet another turtle-necked wanker, I'm sure we all came to Foucault because he offers us a way forward in our efforts to cultivate a certain self and a certain politics, let's not undermine such efforts in senseless distortions of what he did or did not say! regards, cameron duff university of melbourne _____________________________________________________________________________ http://messenger.yahoo.com.au - Yahoo! Messenger - Voice chat, mail alerts, stock quotes and favourite news and lots more!
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