David Macey Books

An examination of the relation between war and politics, by one of the twentieth century's most influential thinkers From 1971 until 1984 at the Collège de France, Michel Foucault gave a series of lectures ranging freely and conversationally over the range of his research. In Society Must Be Defended, Foucault deals with the emergence in the early seventeenth century of a new understanding of war as the permanent basis of all institutions of power, a hidden presence within society that could be deciphered by an historical analysis. Tracing this development, Foucault outlines the genealogy of power and knowledge that had become his dominant concern.

The book offers an in-depth exploration of a legendary anti-colonialist's journey, highlighting his personal experiences, intellectual development, and political activism. It delves into the complexities of his thoughts and actions, providing a nuanced understanding of his impact on anti-colonial movements. Through detailed narratives, the work captures the essence of his struggle against oppression and his contributions to social justice, making it a vital resource for those interested in history and political theory.

Throughout most of his career, Michel Foucault consistently refused to say much about himself and was reluctant to be defined in either professional or personal terms. His stance was 'Do not ask who I am, and do not ask me to remain the same'. This title argues that these contradictory views make it possible to relate Foucault's work to his life.

"First published in French as Casseroles, amour et crises"--T.p. verso.

The author explores the contemporary social and cultural implications of democracy, seeking to reconstruct the political landscape and revive democratic values. He addresses two main threats to democracy: the inherent risks it faces and the misuse of its name. Through this examination, the book aims to foster a deeper understanding and commitment to democratic principles in today's society.

The one emotion that matters most to many people is the one about which social thinkers rarely speak - love. For many people, love is the thing that matters most in their lives: they are searching for love, hoping to find in love a kind of happiness that they cannot find in their work or by surrounding themselves with material goods. But where does this peculiar and powerful blending together of love and happiness come from, and why do we find it such a compelling idea today? In this short book Jean-Claude Kaufmann offers a fresh account of the history of a feeling unlike any other. The modern idea of love as passion was born in the 12th century but it was marginalized by the rise of a kind of instrumental, calculating reason that became increasingly central to modern societies. As calculating reason began to encroach on the personal domain, many individuals sought to escape from it, searching for happiness elsewhere. As our societies become dominated by calculating reason and selfish individualism, we search elsewhere for the kind of happy love that will heal all our wounds. This is why we experience so many changes of heart in our personal lives: at times we are coldly calculating and then, a few moments later, we sacrifice ourselves to love without a second thought. Written by one of France’s leading sociologists, this highly readable book sheds new light on love and happiness and will resonate with many readers.

Foucault's work reached beyond the normal boundaries of philosophy; he wrote about madness, prisons, medicine, sex and language. He was many things - academic, political activist, child, lover of men. Opening with an account of Foucault's death in 1985 from AIDS, this biography then returns to the provincial France of his childhood, and follows the transformation of a conservative doctor's son into the foremost radical philosopher of his generation, the force of his work enhanced by his actively homosexual lifestyle. A brief fling with communism left him with an abiding hatred of the Soviet Union. After working on the history of psychiatry through the 1950s and '60s in Sweden, Poland and Tunisia, Foucault returned to France after the violence of May 1968 with a disturbing vision of modern society policed by mechanisms of power and control. He also lived his ideas, agitating for prison reform, homosexual liberation and the rights of mental patients. David Macey's other works include Lacan in Contexts , a study of the French psychoanalyst.