In The Politics of Truth, the intellectual dialogues of two titans, Michel Foucault and Immanuel Kant, converge across centuries, illuminating the contours of truth and the very fabric of modernity. Inspired by Kant’s seminal essay “What is Enlightenment?” penned in 1784, this book embarks on a journey through the labyrinthine corridors of philosophical inquiry, guided by the incisive introduction by John Rajchman.
Kant’s probing question, posed to the readership of the Berlinische Monatsschrift, becomes a catalyst for reflection, inviting scrutiny of the prevailing notions of truth and enlightenment. Foucault, positioned as both interlocutor and inheritor of Kant’s legacy, engages in a dialectical exchange with the Enlightenment thinker, reconfiguring his insights through the prism of post-structuralist critique.
The collection curates unpublished essays and transcripts of Foucault’s lectures, delivered in the intellectual hubs of America and France during the twilight years of his life (1978-1984). These texts serve as waypoints in Foucault’s intellectual trajectory, marking the culmination of his inquiries into power, knowledge, and subjectivity.
Foucault’s analysis spans a vast terrain, from the nature of critique and revolution to the contours of contemporary ethics. His reflections on the Enlightenment, intertwined with considerations of the Frankfurt School, offer a panoramic display of intellectual history, refracted through the prism of his distinctive analytical lens.
The work is structured in two thematic arcs, each inviting readers to delve deeper into the nuances of Foucault’s thought. The first part, “Critique and Enlightenment,” unfurls a series of inquiries into the nature of critique itself, probing the intersections of power and knowledge in the fabric of society. Here, Foucault’s incisive analyses serve as a compass, guiding readers through the turbulent currents of modernity.
In the second part, “Hermeneutics of the Self,” Foucault turns his gaze inward, exploring the labyrinthine pathways of subjectivity and truth. Through a nuanced examination of Christianity and confession, he excavates the layers of the self, revealing the intricate interplay between discourse and identity.
The Politics of Truth is more than a scholarly inquiry; it is a testament to the enduring relevance of philosophical discourse in an age marked by uncertainty and upheaval. As readers navigate the intellectual landscape mapped out by Foucault and Kant, they are invited to confront their own assumptions and interrogate the very foundations of truth and enlightenment. In this encounter between past and present, between critique and creation, lies the transformative potential of philosophy itself.
Simon Gros 
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