Foucault Theory Of Power

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‘We are subjected to the production of truth through power and we cannot exercise power except through the production of truth’ (Foucault, Pg. 93). I believe that Foucault is trying to address how power manifests in a society. He questions the ‘how of power’ (Foucault, Pg. 92), and the effect of the truth that produces power (Foucault, Pg. 93). Foucault believes that power is produced through discourses of truth, which are learned in society. This creates a triangle of power, right, and truth (Foucault, Pg. 93). Foucault believes that power; right and truth have a highly organized relationship (Foucault, Pg. 93), as societies demand the production of the truth for power (Foucault, Pg. 93).
Foucault defines his work on the manifestation of
93). Therefore it falls on the community to validate what is and isn’t knowledge, which results in what is and isn’t power. Thus power creates and is administered by what is accepted by society through learned discourses of truth (Foucault, Pg. 93). Foucault holds that the truth is always relative to an order of power, and that discourses of truth are a tool to attain power (Foucault, Pg. 93). Thus everyone is involved in and plays a role in the creation of power as discourses spread and produce, reinforce, and challenge power. Foucault articulates that the effects of truth that power constructs and transmits, in turn results in the proliferation of power (Foucault, Pg. 93). He argues that power cannot be attained except through the truth (Foucault, Pg. 93), thus in order to function we must speak the truth (Foucault, Pg. 93). Foucault is trying to argue that it is in fact not class status, nor economic or political power that drives power, but rather it is the truth that makes laws and thus produces true discourses that decide and extend the effects of power (Foucault, Pg. 94). Therefore, true discourses are the bearers and the invigilators of the specific effects and realms of power (Foucault, Pg.

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