Michel Foucault

Born in 1926, Michel Foucault is a French philosopher and social theorist that is known for the ways that power manifests in society, particularly in terms of his relationship to knowledge. He is known as a part of a group of 20th century French intellectuals, and is associated with the structuralist and post structuralist movements. Much of Foucault’s theory covers the way that power structures target those especially vulnerable in society, such as prisoners and people in psychiatric institutions. Foucault’s work often engages in a “history of the present,” a historical investigation of why things are the way they are, and the philosophical implications of the way that society is structured. His books cover a wide range of topics, ranging from sexuality to the history of conceptions of knowledge. Foucault is also known for rejecting the idea of innate universal concepts, such as free will...