In Michel Foucault’s later years, his work shifted focus from analyzing systems of power and knowledge to exploring ethics, subjectivity, and the practices of freedom. While he maintained his interest in power, he became increasingly concerned with how individuals relate to themselves and how they can resist domination by cultivating their own modes of being. Below are the key messages and themes he emphasized during this period:
1. The Ethics of the Self:
• In his lectures at the Collège de France, particularly The Hermeneutics of the Subject (1981–1982), Foucault explored the concept of ethics as a practice of freedom.
• He studied ancient Greco-Roman practices of self-care (epimeleia heautou) and truth-telling (parrhesia), arguing that individuals should cultivate a critical relationship with themselves as a means of achieving autonomy.
• Message: True freedom is not granted by external systems but achieved through practices of self-transformation, where individuals actively shape their own ethical being.
2. The Care of the Self and Resistance:
• Foucault highlighted the importance of self-care as a political and ethical act. In ancient philosophy, this meant practices such as meditation, self-reflection, and disciplined living, all aimed at developing an ethical subjectivity.
• He argued that in modern times, the concept of self-care has been overshadowed by obedience to external authorities and systems of normalization.
• Message: Resistance to domination begins with reclaiming the ability to care for oneself and cultivate one’s own values, rather than passively conforming to societal norms.
3. Parrhesia: Courageous Truth-Telling:
• In his final lecture series, The Courage of Truth (1983–1984), Foucault analyzed the ancient Greek practice of parrhesia, or speaking truth to power, despite the risks.
• Parrhesia involves a commitment to truth, not for its own sake, but as a way of transforming oneself and society.
• Message: Courageous truth-telling is a fundamental ethical and political act that disrupts power structures and enables the possibility of change.
4. Power, Freedom, and Ethics:
• Foucault argued that power is not merely repressive but also productive, shaping our desires, identities, and ways of being. However, this also means that resistance is always possible within power structures.
• He shifted his focus from disciplinary power and biopolitics to exploring how individuals can resist these forces by exercising freedom through ethical practices.
• Message: Power can be resisted not by overthrowing it entirely but by redefining one’s relationship to it, creating spaces for freedom within its constraints.
5. Aesthetics of Existence:
• Foucault proposed the idea of life as a work of art, or the aesthetics of existence. He believed individuals should approach their lives as creative projects, shaping their actions, beliefs, and relationships in ways that reflect their own values and aspirations.
• Inspired by ancient philosophical practices, he emphasized the importance of living deliberately and critically.
• Message: Life should not be passively lived according to societal expectations but actively shaped as a personal and ethical creation.
6. Critique of Modernity and Enlightenment:
• In his essay “What Is Enlightenment?” (1984), Foucault revisited Kant’s question of how we relate to our present moment. He defined critique as a form of “voluntary insubordination,” where individuals question the norms and truths imposed upon them.
• Foucault did not reject modernity but called for a critical engagement with it, encouraging individuals to resist its constraining aspects while imagining new ways of being.
• Message: Engage critically with the present, question dominant truths, and invent new ways of living and thinking.
7. Genealogy as a Tool for Freedom:
• Foucault’s genealogical method, which traces the historical roots of ideas and practices, is ultimately aimed at opening up possibilities for transformation. By showing that current systems of thought and power are contingent, not inevitable, he sought to empower individuals to envision alternatives.
• Message: Understanding the historical contingency of power and knowledge enables us to imagine and create new futures.
8. Death and the Limit of Thought:
• In his later reflections, Foucault often returned to the question of mortality and the limits of human experience. He viewed death as a point of transformation, both for individuals and for thought itself.
• Message: Embrace the limits of human existence and use them as an impetus for critical reflection and creative transformation.
Conclusion:
Foucault’s later work invites us to think critically about how we live, relate to ourselves, and engage with systems of power. His key messages emphasize:
• The importance of ethical self-care and autonomy.
• The need for courageous truth-telling in resisting domination.
• The possibility of freedom through the creative redefinition of one’s life and relationships.
• The role of critique in challenging and transforming the present.
Ultimately, Foucault’s later thought serves as a guide for navigating power and creating meaningful lives in a world shaped by complex systems of control and normalization.
