This series delves into profound philosophical inquiries concerning individual autonomy and collective existence. It explores the ways individuals shape themselves and their relationships with others through virtues like courage and truth-telling. Drawing on ancient traditions, the series demonstrates how these techniques of self-governance form the bedrock of a free society. It offers thought-provoking insights for anyone interested in ethics, politics, and human freedom.
An exciting and highly original examination of the practices of truth-telling and speaking out freely (parresia) in ancient Greek tragedy and philosophy. Foucault discusses the difficult and changing practices of truth-telling in ancient democracies and tyrannies.
The Courage of the Truth is the last course that Michel Foucault delivered at the College de France before his death in 1984. In this course, he continues the theme of the previous year's lectures in exploring the notion of truth- telling in politics to establish a number of ethically irreducible conditionsbased on courage and conviction.