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regime of truth

yihwan
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Posted 10/18/09 - 02:41 PM: Subject: regime of truth	#1
hi everyone, i'm writing one of my first papers on foucault's idea of a regime of truth or the idea that truth isn't so much a universal, absolute concept but one that is formed by context/discourse. i'm still trying to figure out the basic concepts of this idea, but i think i'll be able to do this by myself. the thing i'm having trouble with is finding examples of the regime of truth in (somewhat current) political events. ive gone through major new networks, snl, and the daily show with little luck. can someone point me in the right direction? if anyone could offer his/her own view of the "regime of truth," that would also be greatly appreciated.

Cadrache
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Posted 10/19/09 - 04:48 PM:	#2
Cadrache's Regime: Truth. That is a tough one! I have not read foucault. (Ya... Ya... the usual.) I would most likely start with questioning illusory vs. real. To me - all Truth is illusory. It is however a different kind of illusion then that of "Non-Truth" illusions. The simplist argument for illusion would be to define it as 'that which does not exist." The problem with this is that it does not explain where the doesn't exist happens at or even if the illusion exists to begin with. One of the things I don't see discussed much is whether or not noumetic ideas have existence. Well.. that's it for now. I would also consider causality,locality, observation, dependence and independence.
"...There was a writer who asked why it was that when we find positive experiences we say that only the physical facts are real, but in negative experiences we believe that reality is subjective. He made an example of those who say that in birth only the pain is real, the joy a subjective point of view, but that in death it is the emotional loss that is the reality." - Tony Ballantyne, Recursion. _____________________________________________ Truth is want. - The internal state of matters. Truth is Need. - The external state of affairs.

Arkady
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Posted 10/19/09 - 04:57 PM:	#3
yihwan wrote: hi everyone, i'm writing one of my first papers on foucault's idea of a regime of truth or the idea that truth isn't so much a universal, absolute concept but one that is formed by context/discourse. i'm still trying to figure out the basic concepts of this idea, but i think i'll be able to do this by myself. the thing i'm having trouble with is finding examples of the regime of truth in (somewhat current) political events. ive gone through major new networks, snl, and the daily show with little luck. can someone point me in the right direction? if anyone could offer his/her own view of the "regime of truth," that would also be greatly appreciated. In all honesty: my advice would be to steer clear of Foucault (and post-mod, post-structuralist crap in general) and study a real philosopher. You're still young, you haven't sunk much time into it...cut your losses now.
"Sit down before fact like a little child, and be prepared to give up every preconceived notion. Follow humbly wherever and to whatever abyss Nature leads, or you shall learn nothing." -T.H. Huxley

quickly
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Posted 10/20/09 - 06:56 PM:	#4
Look at the first half of The History of Sexuality, and pay close attention to his discussion of the family (what is it? is it a type of something? how was it made? what is its purpose? how is it used?) and power (what is it? is it a type of something? how is it made? what is its purpose? how is it used?). Specifically in regards to truth, look at The Order of Things or Fearless Speech. Especially the sections dealing with abstract formulations of the sciences or different episteme and how moral discourses interact with scientific discourses. Also: both Bourdieu gives a more consistent and empirically verifiable formulation of many of Foucault and Deleuze's theses. Instead of focusing on Foucault (especially if one is not equipped to deal with its intellectual framework (i.e., its own context and discourse (i.e., that which Foucault is analyzing))), it would do less harm to read Outline of a Theory of Practice, which while as turgidly Gallic as Foucault, is infinitely more insightful, although to some extent takes Foucault for granted. In terms of modern political or social events formed by a particular discourse, any topic dealing with gender issues, the status of the family, normative sexual pratices or homosexuality, etc., all epitomize Foucault's prime targets. On a more abstract level, discussion of the self as an entity or non-entity, i.e., how people are treated in jurisprudence and especially courts would be a good topic. As well, and specifically in regards the sciences, what types of data are permitted, what constitutes a theory, etc., would all be fruitful topics to which one could apply Foucault, Deleuze, or Bourdieu. Edited by quickly on 10/20/09 - 07:04 PM
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