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Michel Foucault: Genealogy and Research
Conference paper   Peer reviewed

Michel Foucault: Genealogy and Research

P Fitzsimons and Eleanor Horton
Proceedings of the 2006 Annual Conference of the Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia, pp.1-11
Annual Conference of the Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia (PESA): Politics, business and education: The aims of education in the Twenty-First Century, 2006 (Sydney, Australia, 23-Nov-2006–26-Nov-2006)
Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia
2006
url
https://pesa.org.au/View
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Abstract

Education Systems Curriculum and Pedagogy Specialist Studies in Education Foucault genealogy history
What is the significance of the colour 'grey' and how does it relate to genealogy? 'Genealogy is gray' (Foucault, 1977: 139). This paper attempts to elaborate on a way of thinking about educational research that goes against traditions. It looks at the research game and how Foucault could be used. If a writer's attachments to his or her discipline or field of study primarily depend on the traditional rules of the 'game' -- in Wittgenstein's sense of 'game' (e.g. Wittgenstein, 1953: 92) -- then that writer can be regarded as within the linear dynasty of a disciplinary past. In contrast, 'Foucault's work is antidynastic; it is not the continuation of a line from privileged origin to present consciousness. Foucault conducts a genealogical investigation into the concept of genealogy itself. He takes his inspiration from Nietzsche who employed certain technical terms to distinguish what he calls effective history ('wirkliche Historie'), that is, genealogy, from the traditional academic discipline of history.

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