Single Idea 21134

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 6. Liberalism / b. Liberal individualism]

Full Idea

On a radical reading of Foucault, the very ideal of a rational, autonomous moral agent that lies at the heart of liberal governmentality is nothing more than the effect of a particular form of domination.

Gist of Idea

Maybe the rational autonomous liberal individual is merely the result of domination

Source

Andrew Shorten (Contemporary Political Theory [2016], 06)

Book Reference

Shorten,Andrew: 'Contemporary Political Theory' [Palgrave 2016], p.167


A Reaction

[Apologies for the word 'governmentality'; I'm just the messenger] Presumably Foucault's philosophy is also the result of domination, so it is hard to know where to start. The status of rationality is the central issue.