Foucault’s Concept of Confession

Setting out from the difficulty of translating Foucauldian notion aveu, this paper proposes an account Foucault’s concept confession in years 1979-1983 surrounding writing Confessions Flesh. I focus on relative failure to bring together complementary dimensions as sins and faith early Christianity. attempts tackle challenge nonetheless reveal a number crucial aspects his thought throughout 1970s, e.g., critique ideology role that played setting “critical philosophy veridictions”. A comparison with lectures given at Louvain Collège de France suggests Foucault took original rather solitary path Flesh, which may explain surprises awaiting reader. Finally, propose explanation final shift away Christian towards Greek parrhesia, pointing key idea “duty truth”. This led approach illocutionary force statements.