Is the 'self' capable of reaching the truth when only equipped with knowledge? Or can it attain the truth without a 'long labor of ascesis?' Why is the concept of the 'care of the self' neglected by Western thought despite its vital role in constructing the concept of 'know yourself'? These ethical questions and more are elegantly discussed in Foucault's ... Read morethird volume of lectures from the College de France. Foucault's contribution to modern thought is so enormous that philosophy cannot be approached without reference to his works; like Nietzsche, he questions the Western belief of one center that holds the absolute truth. Instead, he argues for multiple centers and stresses the importance of marginal events in shaping the social and cultural entity of the West. Here, Foucault examines the notion of the self in Western thought, speaking with poetic insight about the genealogy of this concept in all its associations with power, knowledge, and religion. He thus plants the seeds for his more analytical works, such as The History of Sexuality. Recommended for public and academic libraries with large philosophy collections.
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