The Embodiment of Truth and the Politics of Community: Foucault and the Cynics

Vanessa Lemm

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The chapter by Lemm analyzes Foucault’s return to the Socratic practice of philosophy by focusing on the most extreme of the Socratic schools, namely, the Cynics. Lemm reads into Foucault’s fascination with the Cynics the traces left in his thinking by Nietzsche’s problem of how much truth can be incorporated or embodied in a life. Cynic philosophy, for Lemm, presents itself as the most radical reduction of bios to zoe in order to unleash both the immunitary and the communitary resources of embodiment. According to Lemm, Foucault saw in the Cynic form of life an experiment to unite life (zoe) and philosophy so as to make possible a form of life (bios) that resists the very idea of a government of life.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe government of life
Subtitle of host publicationFoucault, biopolitics and neoliberalism
PublisherFordham University Press
Chapter11
Pages208-223
Number of pages16
ISBN (Electronic)9780823255993
ISBN (Print)9780823255962
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

Keywords

  • Foucault
  • Socratic practice
  • philosophy
  • Cynics
  • Nietzsche
  • Embodiment
  • Zoe
  • Philosophical Life
  • Community

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  • Introduction

    Lemm, V. & Vatter, M., 2014, The government of life: Foucault, biopolitics and neoliberalism. Lemm, V. & Vatter, M. (eds.). New York: Fordham University Press, p. 1-13 13 p. (Forms of living).

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

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