Michel Foucault’s famous statement about the erasure of man as a face drawn in the sand (The Order of Things, 1966) does indeed suggest the possibility that the modern conception of the self might be erased or at least profoundly reconfigured. To unpack this idea, it’s essential to consider the context and implications of Foucault’s argument:
1. Foucault’s Critique of the Modern Subject
Foucault critiques the Enlightenment-era conception of man as the central subject of knowledge and power. He argues that this man is a historical construct, emerging from the epistemic shifts of modernity, particularly during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
The self as an autonomous, rational, and introspective entity is tied to this modern notion of man. It is not a universal or timeless concept but a product of specific historical conditions.
2. The Epistemic Shifts of Modernity
Foucault’s archaeology of knowledge reveals that the human sciences (e.g., psychology, sociology, anthropology) created the idea of man as both the subject and the object of inquiry. This dual role, however, is fragile and contingent. If the systems of thought and power that sustain this conception of “man” change, then the modern “self” may dissolve along with it.
3. The End of the Modern Subject
Foucault’s metaphor of man being erased like a face in the sand points to the transient nature of the modern human sciences and their conception of the subject:
The Death of the Author: Foucault aligns with post-structuralist critiques (e.g., Barthes) that decenter the individual as the origin of meaning. In this view, the self is not a stable, coherent author of its own narrative but a construct shaped by discourse.
Displacement by Systems: Foucault predicts that new epistemes (systems of knowledge) will emerge that no longer require man as the central figure. The self as a focal point of thought and inquiry may be replaced by other frameworks, such as systems, networks, or flows.
4. The self in a Post-Human Era
In the context of Foucault’s ideas, the erasure of man implies a shift away from anthropocentric and individualistic conceptions of the self:
Posthumanism: Contemporary theories, influenced by thinkers like Donna Haraway and Rosi Braidotti, propose a posthuman condition where the boundaries between human, machine, and environment blur. In such a world, the modern self may be replaced by a more fluid and interconnected notion of existence.
De-centered Subjectivity: Instead of a coherent, autonomous self, postmodern and posthuman perspectives suggest fragmented, relational, or collective forms of identity, where the self is no longer a privileged locus.
5. Does the self Truly Disappear?
While Foucault’s vision is provocative, it does not necessarily mean the annihilation of subjectivity. Rather, it points to:
The contingency of the modern self: It is not eternal or essential but tied to specific historical and cultural contexts.
The transformation of subjectivity: The self as we know it may dissolve, but new forms of being and relating may emerge, shaped by evolving epistemes and technologies.
6. Conclusion
Foucault’s wager that “man” may be erased does indeed suggest the potential erasure of the modern “self” as a central figure of thought. However, this is not the end of subjectivity altogether. Instead, it signals a transformation - move toward new, perhaps unrecognizable, ways of understanding identity, agency, and existence in a world no longer centered on the human. The self would not disappear entirely but would be radically reimagined in line with emerging epistemes and post-human paradigms.
