Foucault’s Understanding of Enlightenment and Ethical-Political Dimension of Criticism

Abstract

In this article, Foucault’s, with reference to his relevant texts, I will try to show the transformation that Kant created in his understanding of “criticism”. In order to understand Foucault’s understanding of criticism, I aim to subject these texts to a cross-reading. In this way, I think I can both reveal Foucault’s understanding of criticism and show the connection points between his texts. From this point of view, we will focus on the texts Foucault wrote, particularly on subjects such as power, ethics, and freedom. Criticism for Foucault is an activity of the subject under the limit of power to overcome these limits. The fact that the subject is able to overcome the limits of power and establish its own freedom is related to the abolition and overcoming force of these limits. Foucault put forward that this force can be achieved by transforming criticism into a practical activity. Therefore, Foucault’s placing of power at the center of criticism in “What is Criticism?” paved the way for him to later address it as a work of freedom in “What is Enlightenment?” In other words, Foucault said, “What is criticism?” In his article, he sees the idea of enlightenment as a tremendous and vital breaking moment in terms of strengthening political rationality in the Western world. Accordingly, the idea of enlightenment prepares the ground for the spread of political rationality in a way that penetrates the deepest layers of society [...]