Questions+of+Method

//__Q1: Why do you study prison per se to understand punishment?__// The main aim is to open up a space of research and there is an attempt to conceptualize the relation between dialectics, genealogy, and strategy. Prison is studied for penal system because it has been so far neglected, and it is part of genealogy of morals work (how does one punish?) Foucault identifies himself as a continuist. So actually, he is looking at historical process (multiple processes). //__Q2: How do you find your level/unit of analysis?__// The question actually asks about hyper-rationalism and infra-rationality. Foucault starts talking about __e__ventalization. He tries to make visible a singularity at places - to show that things 'weren't as necessary as all that'/ He also aims to rediscover the connections, encounters, supports, blockages, plays of forces, strategies, and so on which ar a given moment establish what subsequently counts as being self-evident, universal, and necessary. (I don't have page numbers, but this is an exact citation from the eventalization page). The operation ends up in a polymorphism of (i) elements, (ii) relations, (iii) domains of reference. (This reminds me of thick description for some reason): "There are too many diverse kinds of relations, too many lines of analysis, yet at the same time there is too little necessary unity". //__Q3: What is eventalization?How is your work related to other thinkers?__// Foucault choose to measure practices (not against a value-of-reason) according to two-axes: codification/prescription, true or false formulation. He doesn't like ideal types as they seem to talk about general principles. Foucault looks at something deeper, more philosophical. //__Q4: How can we claim to be working 'towards breaking up existing self evidences' through this kind of work?__// Here, the question focuses on anaesthetic effect. Talking about system, it makes human agency does not have room for initiative. How are existing-self evidences unstable? (and can be changed?-ES) He practically claims that he is trying to study the objects that historians consider as historically given. || - How close is Foucaultian understanding of history to Marxism? || = = = = = = = = = = = = I shall be the one to summarize this article - Efe = = = = = = = =
 * =Title= || Questions of Method ||
 * =Author= || Michel Foucault ||
 * =Date= || 03/03/2011 ||
 * =Summary By= || Efe ||
 * =Summary= || Foucault is practically answering to four questions in this essay. Let me try to rephrase these questions and his answers/
 * =Discussion points= || - What is the relation between eventalization and case study approach/thick description?

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