Part 1 | Part 2 In this Key Thinkers lecture at the University of Melbourne, Professor of English John Frow introduces and discusses the ideas of Michel Foucault.Foucault -...
Looking forward to seeing the other parts - John Frow was inspirational during my time at Murdoch University. Interesting side point re Velazquez' Las Meninas - there is a story that King Phillip IV himself added the cross of the Order of Santiago to Velazquez' painting after awarding the honour to the painter posthumously. I believe the Order of Santiago is Spain's equivalent to a knighthood.
Power/ knowledge. This seems to suggest that a scientific discovery like Mendels could have been overlooked or rejected and only, perhaps much later, have been rediscovered and found compatible with other discoveries. As it turns out, it did come to light and was found compatible. I guess what Foucault is saying is that the scientific discovery process isn't just a matter of the scientific method. Because there are people involved at every step, then various systems of power could have hindered the progress of Mendels' discoveries along the way. Perhaps professional jealousy and religious prejudice.
And he became famous for sodomizing young boys and men, infecting them with A.I.D.S., when he knew he had A.I.D.S., yet the academic community still heralds him a brilliant theorist.
