The Postmodern Thought of Michel Foucault Related to Structuralism

Abstract

Michel Foucault is the emblematic figure of French postmodernism which is characterized by an originality in his ideas, who made an extraordinary contribution with his work. He used to call himself a product of modern tradition although his works represented a comprehensive and original critique precisely of this way of thinking. He is an ever actual philosopher which drew scientific and intellectual attention from early days. With his ideas he wanted to make a clear distinction from structuralism and other previous tendencies by joining the voice of other postmodern theorists who were attempting to show as inadequate and overly humanizing the alternatives which were offered by modern philosophical systems. In this paper we will review his thought related to structuralism as a theoretical and philosophic direction with which he was usually identified while he categorically denied it. We will also analyze the reasons why did it come to identification and equivalence of Foucault with structuralism.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016.v7n2s1p354