3 Main Philosophers
2) In order to understand if there is an actual truth for Michel Foucault lets consider his principles, starting with his take on how society sees writers. Foucault believes that society now looks at our universities for its knowledge because of the intersection of multiple fields of study. Foucault depicts the significance in power for a writer, despite his political affiliation by stating that writers who are sanctioned by a powerful structure affect reality a great deal. Foucault believes that an intellectual could not be effective without the support of some structure, however does make an argument for individual efficacy. Foucault believes that structure is successful because it creates truth, and with that recognition an individual can succeed. "The important thing here, I believe, is that truth isn't outside power, or lacking in power
truth isn't the reward of free spirits, the child of protracted solitude, nor the privilege of those who have succeeded in liberating themselves." Foucault identifies the creation of truth in contemporary western society with five traits: the centering of truth on scientific discourse, accountability of truth to economic and political forces, the "diffusion and consumption" of truth via societal apparatuses, the control of the distribution of truth by "political and economic apparatuses," and the fact that it is "the issue of a whole political debate and social confrontation." Foucault states that individuals should recognize that ultimate "Truth", is the construct of political and economic forces that command the majority of the power within a society. Foucault believes there is no truly universal truth at all; therefore, the intellectual cannot convey universal truth.
4) Opposing any notion of the postmodern condition, Habermas contends that modernity poses for us a task that must still be completed, going against philosophers who state that modernity is over, giving it still a fighting chance. Habermas's...
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