Uma prática filosófica em Michel Foucault: a resposta ao chamado da Aufklärung.

Abstract

This thesis aims to analyze the approach about Michel Foucault's theoretical framework and some of Immanuel Kant's texts, in particular “Beantwortung der Frage: Was ist Aufklärung?”, published in the Berlinische Monatsschrift in 1784. The research starts from the perspective that Aufklärung – although marked as a historical period – could be understood as an important posture for some philosophers, and not just those located in the 18th and 19th centuries. To this end, it was analyzed the participation of Foucault in a certain aspect of Modern Philosophy, which has its origin in Kant the ontology of the present. The hypothesis is that “enrolment” of Foucault in this Kantian tradition, begins to be demonstrated in 1978, when he commented on Aufklärung in “Introduction by Michel Foucault”, elaborated for the american version of the book “The Normal and The Pathologic”, by Georges Canguilhem. From them on, the theme of Aufklärung becomes recurrent in his writings and lectures. Furthermore, and from this introduction, the latent presence of Aufklärung can be thought of in Foucauldian books and texts, written before 1978. In summary, with the specific hypotheses, the thesis indicates that the understanding of Foucault's work can be realized from observation of its relationship with the Enlightenment. Moreover, the Thesis also defends the internal dialogue in Foucault's work and suspends thematic reading. Thus, after checking the inheritance of “Philosophy of the Enlightenment” in Foucault, the research showed how it would be possible to think about the influences of Aufklärung present in Foucault's philosophical practice – “a certain way of philosophizing” that was in development since his first texts (when he was still under influence of thinkers associated to History of Sciences) –, and how its philosophical practice provides the conditions for the processes of subjectivation in the political field. Finally, the Thesis presents the current status of Aufklärung: with his motto “Sapere Aude!”, Aufklärung reminds everyone to their personal condition, and also the responsibility and the need to promote a break with immaturity.