Talk:Michel Foucault reading group

the Introduction to The Archeology of Knowledge

Sometimes it is possible for an author to be so immersed in the topic of interest that the author's ongoing struggle to come to grips with the topic distracts the author from providing readers with a "bird's eye view" of the struggle. We are invited to get down in the mud and role around with the author; join in the struggle. That is fine if you are already in your work clothes and ready to get dirty. However, those of us who are in a more fastidious mood might need to first know if by joining Foucault in his struggle we will learn something useful or just get dirty. "My aim is to uncover the principles and consequences of an autochthonous transformation that is taking place in the field of historical knowledge." Phrased this way, it does not even sound like Foucault believed that goal had been reached. I admit to being spoiled by the scientific literature in which it is common to be provided with "abstracts" and "introductions" that contain short lists of what has been accomplished by the author(s) in each particular publication. After looking at w:The Archaeology of Knowledge I wonder if it would be possible to say something such as: "Foucault describes a few Western historical ages in terms of cultural systems that generated particular distinctive types of human activities, with particular emphasis on those activities that generate feedback and lead to changes in the cultural system itself, eventually leading to transitions between historical ages." --JWSchmidt 15:40, 28 November 2006 (UTC)