Foucault

His Thought, His Character

By: Paul Veyne

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eBook | 23 March 2016 | Edition Number 1

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216 Pages

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Michel Foucault and Paul Veyne: the philosopher and the historian. Two major figures in the world of ideas, resisting all attempts at categorization. Two timeless thinkers who have long walked and fought together. In this short book Paul Veyne offers a fresh portrait of his friend and relaunches the debate about his ideas and legacy. 'Foucault is not who you think he is', writes Veyne; he stood neither on the left nor on the right and was frequently disowned by both. He was not so much a structuralist as a sceptic, an empiricist disciple of Montaigne, who never ceased in his work to reflect on 'truth games', on singular, constructed truths that belonged to their own time.

A unique testimony by a scholar who knew Foucault well, this book succeeds brilliantly in grasping the core of his thought and in stripping away the confusions and misunderstandings that have so often characterized the interpretation of Foucault and his work.

Industry Reviews

"Paul Veyne's quirky and involving book is an idiosyncratic and personal tribute, which is obviously, and movingly, deeply felt."
The Philosophers' Magazine

"Foucault is well- known as one of the most influential thinkers of the twentieth century. Writing from his profound knowledge of the man, Paul Veyne here vividly brings out his character and personality."
Geoffrey Lloyd, University of Cambridge

"It is fascinating to follow Paul Veyne's engagement with Foucault: he was extremely close to Foucault, as the celebrated history of sexuality developed as a project, and this essay, which mixes reminiscences with argument and reflection, captures a real flavour of the intellectual excitement of those times."
Simon Goldhill, University of Cambridge