Philosophical Discourse and Ascetic Practice: On Foucault’s Readings of Descartes’ Meditations

This paper addresses the multiple readings that Foucault offers of Descartes’ Meditations during whole span his intellectual career. It thus rejects (almost) exclusive focus literature on few pages History Madness dedicated to and so-called Foucault/Derrida debate. First, it reconstructs Foucault’s interpretation philosophy in a series unpublished manuscripts written between 1966 1968, when was teaching at University Tunis. then important shifts took place thought beginning 1970s, which led him elaborate new approach terms ‘discursive events’. Finally, argues those opened up possibility developing an original reading philosophy, surprisingly close own interest ancient askē sis techniques self.