back to idea for this text


Single Idea 22236

[from 'What is Critique?' by Michel Foucault, in 24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 3. Government / a. Government ]

Full Idea

How to govern was one of the fundamental question of the fifteenth and sixteenth century. ...How to govern children, the poor and beggars, how to govern the family, a house, how to govern armies, different groups, cities, states, and govern one's self.

Gist of Idea

The big question of the Renaissance was how to govern everything, from the state to children

Source

Michel Foucault (What is Critique? [1982], p.28), quoted by Johanna Oksala - How to Read Foucault 9

Book Reference

Oksala,Johanna: 'Foucault how to read' [Granta 2007], p.80


A Reaction

A nice example of Foucault showing how things we take for granted (techniques of control) have been slowly learned, and then taught as standard. Of course, the Romans knew how to govern an army.