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Single Idea 7424

[from 'Ethics of the Concern for Self as Freedom' by Michel Foucault, in 13. Knowledge Criteria / E. Relativism / 1. Relativism ]

Full Idea

When I talk about power relations and games of truth, I am absolutely not saying that games of truth are just concealed power relations - that would be a horrible exaggeration.

Gist of Idea

Saying games of truth were merely power relations would be a horrible exaggeration

Source

Michel Foucault (Ethics of the Concern for Self as Freedom [1984], p.296)

Book Reference

Foucault,Michel: 'Essential Works 1954-1984 I: Ethics', ed/tr. Rabinow,Paul [Penguin 1994], p.296


A Reaction

I take this to be a denial of the more absurd forms of relativism. I think there is an interesting convergence between this kind of continental thinking, and the social view of justification found in the later work of Alvin Goldman.