Madness and Civilization: A History of Insanity in the Age of Reason

A FOUNDATIONAL TEXT FOR UNDERSTANDING DERRIDA:This manuscript by Foucault will either complicate or simplify your comprehension of Derrida; but it should be understood that the two thinkers are closely related in their approach to phenomenology."Madness" appeared in France in 1964. Derrida's "Grammatology" appeared in France in 1967 (just three years later). Although they differed in their appropriation of Descartes; Derrida professed a considerable appreciation for Foucault's work on "Madness".FOUCAULT NTRODUCED THE IDEA OF NEGATING THE CLASSICAL NOTION OF LOGOS that Derrida adapted. It is a first moment to be articulated in this text. From there, the self engages passage on the "ship-of-fools" in search of entering the City-of-Reason"; or "Notion" of the true. The "figuration-of-image" takes place as the self dis-embarks the ship of fools at an inlet river of figuration. It is here where the mast of the ship bears the transplanted "tree-of-knowledge", and the madmen gather around it to form the figuration of possible entrance into "Reason".From here, the self transitions to the "haunted-workhouses" of the 17th century; metaphorically representing the dokounta threshold of the necessary transition point to "Reason". Here the self learns the "rhythm-of-collective-life" and prepares for transition."Notion" is unique for Foucault and is metaphorically represented by the absurd practice of putting the madmen on exhibition, as a presentation of their "nature". These exhibitions were ordered and supervised by attendants; but eventually the madmen practiced self-exhibition; a self-actualizing presentation of their "natures".From here, Foucault transitions through the "HINGE-OF-ANMALITY"; which is the madman reduced to animal status; and stripped of all content. This is justified as a "kindness-of-Nature".From this point on; madness enters the cognitive domain. But there is a need here for some form of metamorphosis of the idea of madness itself. Thus emerges the concept of the Christ-Event.The Christ-Event for Foucault takes up "madness" within the godhead itself through the suffering and representation of madness by Christ during the passion experiences. This, alone defines our essential "Praxis" as a quest for forming an authentic disposition of "body-state" or motivational base."Logos-proper", therefore gets an interesting articulation: PASSION leads to dispersed imprinting of the bodily members; which in turn leads to a concentration of this somatic-imprinting into an image for "inscribing" into the "psyche". Logos is this "reciprocal-pulsation".This all leads to DELIRIUM, which is articulated madness in language. While including the element of "otherness" or transcendence that the collateral axons of the brain afford (Foucault uses neuro-psychology throughout his text).There are numerous correlations with Derrida here; and it helps underscore Derrida's trajectory of thought. I found the manuscript informative and a clarification of Derrida, and an insight to early interpretations of madness and insanity. 5 stars; and, I am sure you will enjoy this manuscript.

I completed reading all of Foucault’s genealogies with his first: it’s actually been now more than half a century since its publication.This is the work that introduced Foucault’s meta narrative: modernity arose far differently from the myths we tell ourselves about it. We say psychiatric science gradually evolved from pseudo-science and inhumane conditions to an understanding of its biological roots and the confidential doctor/patient relationship. Instead, Foucault reveals the many false images with which the Age of Reason tried to understand madness.Whether it was a result of immorality, lack of civilizing or endemic poverty the Age of Reason seized upon the way lepers were treated in the Middle Ages to isolate and contain the insane; at least according to Foucault.So rather than a greater appreciation of reason we see one mythology of madness give place to another as the centuries pass from the sixteenth to the early nineteenth.But rather than make a judgment about the veracity of this discourse, or any of Foucault’s other discourses, I’ll simply repeat a point Foucault himself makes in this work.Modern notions of madness stem from the Renaissance notion of folly—itself a term used in disparate positive and pejorative ways. But one was to emphasize the folly that every Christian believes. That the Lord of the whole universe became a little baby is, whether one believes it or not, surely an example of folly—though perhaps only the reflection of a divine wisdom that to us appears as the greatest of follies.Of course, the revolt against the Hellenistic empire by the Maccabees, commemorated in Chanukah, seemed like tremendous folly as well—until they won.So whether you’re celebrating Christmas or Chanukah or simply a Festivus for the Restofus, Foucault raises a point the seems at the heart of many religions: what seems like foolishness to man may be really the power of God.

This book is hard work , just down to the convoluted writing style . I have read birth of the prison system and really enjoy it. I needed a pencil ,paper and google search to understand what the hell he was talking about a lot of the time . He makes reference to obscure art and books that he assumes you will be as familiar with as E.T. I did love this book once I got into the swing of it . One of those books that really will change the way you see the world and insanity. Lacking the heart of say someone like Rollo May but a really important book , a must read .

This requires a high IQ and mental work to read. But it is full of rich historical details that I had not known before, and provokes consideration of our contemporary moral stance toward "the excluded."

Libro en EXCELENTES CONDICIONES! muy satisfecho

This was purchased as a gift for my son but he likes it, hes been reading it at the beach.

It’s a book

I have to confess it is a bit above my reading capacity. The way of presenting ideas resorted to by Mr. Foucault is quite hard to get on with. Even I put 100% concentration on it, I know I can only get less than what I might be satisfied what Mr. Foucault really wanted to convey. And I recommend a basic reading about literature and art of Middle Age Europe does help to read this book. It is a good book though, a very new way of expressing the intimacy between unreason and reason in civilisation (he seemed to tell they are interchangeable!) It does make me feel depressed when I get myself out of the book world and once again into the real world I am living. Very gloomy, Bleak, Broken....Though it is the commonest indicator of knowing myself get some new knowledge.

Was a Xmas gift, book came in great shape as if I had gone to the book store.

Great

L'édition reçue ne correspond pas à l'édition affichée sur le site.

A one of the most celebrated modern classic of our time. Was a bit disappointed for a bit lesser good quality pages, cover and all, but all is fine with 369rs and a classic important philosophical script, the page quality shouldn't matter for good books.

Faucault has to be read. This is a brilliant historical study of how we define and deal with 'madness' in society. Both badly and dishonestly.