Peter Fletcher

  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact

Technologies of the self

June 20, 2008 by Peter Fletcher

In Technologies of the Self Foucault states:

“[In ancient Greece] it was generally acknowledged that it was good to be reflective, at least briefly…Writing was also important in the culture of taking care of oneself. One of the main features of taking care involved taking notes on oneself to be reread, …and keeping notebooks in order to reactivate for oneself the truths one needed. Socrates’ letters are an example of this self-exercise” (p. 27).

Foucault continues:

“Taking care of oneself became linked to constant writing activity. The self is something to write about, a theme or object (subject) of writing activity…this is not a modern trait born of the Reformation…it is one of the most ancient Western traditions” (p. 27).

And then:

“This genre of epistles shows a side apart from the philosophy of the era. The examination of conscience begins with this letter writing. Diary writing comes later” (p. 30)

Foucault refers here to what he later describes as the hupomnema, the writing of the self into being.

Foucault, M. (1988). Technologes of the Self. In L. Martin, H. Gutman & P. Hutton (Eds.), Technologies of the self. Massachusetts: Massachusetts Press.

Take a moment to share:

  • Tweet
  • Email

Related posts:

  1. Technologies of the self Michel Foucault (1998): “This contact between the technologies of domination...
  2. Why I write this blog I was asked today why I write this blog. It’s...
  3. Why I’m interested in self-writing and the hupomnemata Why self-writing and the hupomnemata? In the paragraphs ahead I...
  4. Surveillance technologies in the work place: ETHICOMP 2004 ETHICOMP 2004: “Surveillance-capable technologies in the workplace: some evidence of...
  5. Foucualt’s response to Kant Foucault critiques Kant’s article Was ist Aufklärung? and notes that...

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Michel Foucault, technologies of the self

About Peter

Speaker, trainer and coach. I write about living, loving and working better. Love a challenge. More...

Subscribe

Get the latest posts delivered to your inbox.

Recent Posts

  • Perth property market report
  • Mandating madness: The case against compulsory e-conveyancing
  • PEXA: Stop treating conveyancers like idiots
  • Page 1 of 365
  • Looking back, looking forward

Top Posts & Pages

  • Foucault on power relations
  • Foucault on Confession
  • Why saying "You've got potential" can be the worst thing to say
  • Home Page
  • Zen and the art of the cold shower
  • Why I'm interested in self-writing and the hupomnemata
  • What Jack and the Beanstalk can teach you about the value of achieving goals
  • The ethics of shark culling
  • Databases as discourse | Mark Poster
  • Page 1 of 365

Location

You can find me at Residential Settlements in Burswood.

5/170 Burswood Road
Burswood WA 6100

Let’s catch up

If you're ready to take your business to the next level, get in touch with me now.

Send me an email using the contact form or call me direct on 0419 538 838.

Connect

Connect with me on one of these social networks.
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2021 · Agency Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.