‘Disciplining’ Truth and Science: Michel Foucault and the Power of Social Science

ABSTRACT
This article explores the works of French philosopher, Michel Foucault and examines its
implications for understanding power and social relations. Despite this, there has been very little
Foucauldian analysis of social science and its relationship to power (Powell 2012). Hence, the article
discusses the relationship between Foucault’s conceptual tools of ‘power’, the emergence of ‘the modern
subject’, the individual and the important concept of ‘body’ as they apply to a methodological and
epistemological understanding of social science in contemporary society.

References
[1] Armstrong, T. J (ed). (1992). Michel Foucault: Philosopher. Translated by Armstrong, T.
J. London: Harvester Wheatsheaf.
[2] Ashenden, S. and Owen, D. (eds) (1999). Foucault Contra Habermas: Recasting the
Dialogue between Genealogy and Critical Theory. London: Sage.
[3] Biggs, S. and Powell, J.L. (2000). Surveillance and Elder Abuse: The Rationalities and
Technologies of Community Care, Journal of Contemporary Health, 4(1); 43-49.
[4] Biggs, S. and Powell, J.L. (2001). ‘A Foucauldian Analysis of Old Age and the Power of
Social science Welfare’, Journal of Aging & Social science Policy, 12(2), 93-111.
[5] Burchell, G., Gordon, C. and Miller, P. (eds) (1991). The Foucault Effect: Studies in
Governmentality. London: Harvester Wheatsheaf.
[6] Davidson, A. (1986). ‘Archaeology, Genealogy, Ethics’ in Hoy, D (Ed.) Foucault: a critical
reader, Oxford: Basil Blackwell.
[7] Dean, M. (2007). Governing Societies. Maidenhead: Open University Press/McGraw-Hill.
[8] Deleuze, G. (1992). ‘What is a Dispositif?’ in T.J. Armstrong (ed), Michel Foucault
Philosopher. Hemel Hempstead: Harvester Wheatsheaf pp. 159-168.
[9] Donzelot, J. (1980). The Policing of Families. This edition published in 1980 by Hutchinson
in London.
[10] Dreyfus, H. and Rabinow, P. (1982). Michel Foucault: Beyond Structuralism and
Hermeneutics. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
[11] Foucault, M. (1967). Madness and Civilisation. London: Tavistock.
[12] Foucault, M. (1972). The Archaeology of Knowledge. London: Tavistock.
[13] Foucault, M. (1973). The Birth of the Clinic. London: Routledge.
[14] Foucault, M. (1976). The History of Sexuality. Harmondsworth: Penguin.
[15] Foucault, M. (1977). Discipline and Punish. London: Tavistock.
[16] Foucault, M. (1978). ‘Governmentality’ in Burchell, G. (ed.). (1991). The Foucault Effect:
Studies in Governmentality. Wheatsheaf: Harvester.
[17] Foucault, M. (1980). Power/Knowledge: Selected Interviews and Other Writings, 1972-
1977, Edited by Gordon, C. New York: Pantheon.
[18] Foucault, M. (1983). ‘The subject of Power’ in Dreyfus, H. and Rabinow, P. (Eds.) Michel
Foucault: beyond structuralism and hermeneutics. Brighton: Harvester.
[19] Foucault, M. (1984). The Foucault Reader. Edited by Rabinow, P. Harmondsworth:
Penguin.
[20] Foucault, M. (1988). ‘Technologies of the Self’ in Martin, L.H. et al. (Eds.). Technologies
of the Self. London: Tavistock.
[21] Foucault, M. (1989). Foucault Live: Collected Interviews 1961-1984. Edited by Lotringer,
E. Translated by Johnston, J. New York: Semiotext(e).
[22] Foucault, M. (1991a). Remarks on Marx: Conversations with Duccio Trombadori.
Translated by Goldstein, R. J. and Cascaito, J. New York: Semiotext(e).
[23] Foucault, M. (1991b). ‘The Ethic of Care for the Self as a Practice of Freedom: An
interview with Fornet-Betancourt, R., Becker, H. and Gomez-Müller, A. Translated by Gauthier
Snr, J. D. In Bernauer, J. and Rasmussen, D. (eds). The Final Foucault. Massachusetts: MIT
Press.
[24] Foucault, M. (1997). Ethics: Subjectivity and Truth. The Essential Works, Volume 1. Edited
by Rabinow, P. Translated by Hurley, R et al. London: Allen Lane, The Penguin Press.
[25] Elders, F. (ed) (1974). Reflexive Waters: The Basic Concerns of Mankind. London:
Souvenir Press.
[26] Garland, D. (1985). Punishment and Welfare. Aldershot: Gower.
[27] Kendall, G and Wickham, G. (1999) Using Foucault’s Methods. London: Sage.
[28] Knights, D. and McCabe, C. (2003). Innovation and Organisation: Guru Schemes and
American Dreams. Maidenhead: Open University Press/McGraw-Hill.
[29] May, T. (1991). Probation: Politics, Policy and Practice. Milton Keynes: Open
University Press.
[30] May, T. (1994). Transformative Power: A Study in a Human Service Organisation.
Sociological Review, 42(4); 618-638.
[31] May, T. (1999). ‘From Banana Time to Just-in-Time: Power and Resistance at Work’.
Sociology, 33(4), 767-783.
[32] McNay, L. (1994) Foucault. Polity: Cambridge.
[33] Owen, D. (1997). Maturity and Modernity: Nietzsche, Weber, Foucault and the
Ambivalence of Reason. London: Routledge.
[34] Powell, J.L and Biggs, S. (2000) ‘Managing Old Age: The Disciplinary Web of Power
Surveillance and Normalization’, Journal of Aging & Identity, 5(1), 3-13.
[35] Powell, J.L (2012). Foucault: Interdisciplinary Approaches. New York: Nova Science.
[36] Smart, B. (1983). Foucault, Marxism and Critique. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.

Download all article in PDF

AWSN 13 (2015) 1-15