The Order of Things: An Archaeology of the Human Sciences by Michel Foucault | Routledge Classics Book | Philosophy & Social Theory Study Guide | Perfect for College Students & Academic Research
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Product Description
When one defines "order" as a sorting of priorities, it becomes beautifully clear as to what Foucault is doing here. With virtuoso showmanship, he weaves an intensely complex history of thought. He dips into literature, art, economics and even biology in The Order of Things, possibly one of the most significant, yet most overlooked, works of the twentieth century. Eclipsed by his later work on power and discourse, nonetheless it was The Order of Things that established Foucault's reputation as an intellectual giant. Pirouetting around the outer edge of language, Foucault unsettles the surface of literary writing. In describing the limitations of our usual taxonomies, he opens the door onto a whole new system of thought, one ripe with what he calls "exotic charm". Intellectual pyrotechnics from the master of critical thinking, this book is crucial reading for those who wish to gain insight into that odd beast called Postmodernism, and a must for any fan of Foucault.
Customer Reviews
There are some books that carve out a small niche of reality and then devote themselves to explaining that particular bit as free from error as humanly possible. There are other books that aim at a sweeping reformulation— or even a new beginning—to a larger realm of human thought.Most of these gain little traction as this sweeping view turns out to be based on facile analogies that do little to actually further the arts and sciences. Foucault’s Order of Things, agree with it or not, is one of the most successful modern examples of such a magnum opus. The work attempts to explain the path of Western thought from the fall of the Renaissance and beginning of the Classical age up to the twentieth century while simultaneously illuminating the subconscious notions that undergird the sciences.An Amazon review is not the place for a sophisticated discussion of Foucault’s success or lack thereof. However, while enriched with an incredible erudition I found Foucault’s postmodern take on empirical sciences more asserted than proven.But it was a joy to wind through the labyrinth of modern Western thought with Foucault as a guide. Whether he has truly discovered the unconscious roots of the sciences and whether his corresponding call for a metaphysics of language to serve as the foundation of human thought is the right path or not, his vast influence, especially in the academy, means that he cannot be overlooked.One should also note that few people have the knowledge or the ambition to attempt Foucault’s project of an archaeology of ideas. If, ultimately, his thought has had somewhat of a pernicious effect on academic life it is not the result of a failure of heart or imagination. It is simply that Foucault’s archaeology is such a vast undertaking that being a pioneer he was bound to mix error and truth.Perhaps the best recommendaton I can make of this book is that I plan to read the Archaeology of Knowledge. A strong, but cautious, recommendation to all intellectuals.
