Habermas, Foucault and Nietzsche: A Double Misunderstanding

Authors

  • Thomas Biebricher University of Florida

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22439/fs.v0i3.870

Abstract

The article analyses Habermas' interpretation of Foucault in the Philosophical Discourse of Modernity and argues that the former misunderstands the Foucaultian project of genealogy fundamentally. While Habermas assumes that Foucault aims at a strictly scientific approach to the writing of history it can be shown that Foucaultian genealogy is strongly characterised by rhetorical aspects, creating a hybrid model of critique that stands in between science and literature. The essay goes on arguing that this misreading can be explained with reference to Habermas' reconstruction of Nietzsche's philosophy in the Philosophical Discourse. On the basis of this clarification the article analyses what a Habermasian position vis-à-vis genealogy including the rhetorical element would look like. Making use of Habermas' remarks on Derrida in the Philosophical Discourse the essay concludes that, counter-intuitively, a rhetorically understood genealogy has to be considered a valid philosophical approach even on Habermas' own terms.

Author Biography

Thomas Biebricher, University of Florida

Thomas Biebricher is a Visiting Assistant Professor from Germany in the Department of Political Science at the University of Florida. His stay is supported by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Dr. Biebricher obtained his PhD from the University of Freiburg, Germany in 2003. His dissertation titled 'Selbstkritik der Moderne. Habermas und Foucault im Vergleich' ('Self-Critique of Modernity. A Comparison of Habermas and Foucault') was published in the series Frankfurt Contributions to Sociology and Social Philosophy edited by the Institute of Social Research in Frankfurt in the Fall of 2004. Dr. Biebricher has also published several articles in edited volumes and German research journals. His primary research interests include twentieth century political theory and philosophy (critical theory, poststructuralism and feminism in particular), as well as comparative politics (theories of comparative politics, Western European systems of government and the restructuring of the welfare State).

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Published

2005-11-01

How to Cite

Biebricher, T. (2005). Habermas, Foucault and Nietzsche: A Double Misunderstanding. Foucault Studies, (3), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.22439/fs.v0i3.870

Issue

Number 3, November 2005

Section

Articles

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