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From: Bradley Nitins <b.nitins@xxxxxxxxx>
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Date: Mon, 28 Nov 2005 21:11:35 +1000
At 07:44 PM 11/17/05, you wrote:
So, if any of you come across a reference on ambiguity
(whether in Foucault's own texts or in others doesn't matter), I would be
more than thankful
Hi Hania,
Reading through Weber's essay on bureaucracy this afternoon i come
across the following quote:
"Precision, speed, unambiguity, knowledge of the files, continuity,
discretion, unity, strict subordination, reduction of friction and of
material and personal costs- these are raised to the optimum point in
the strictly bureaucratic organization"
Perhaps these is a link here to Foucault's critique on modern
'positivities'. Perhaps there is also a link here with Weber's
analysis of the production of the bureaucratic character or
'individual' and aspects of Foucaults analysis of self-discipline in
Discipline and Punish [although certainly there is also important
divergences]. If you are more interested in fleshing out the
connection's between Foucault and Weber there is an every increasing
series of papers on this subject, but the most indepth discussion on
this matter [as well as the relation of both thinkers to Nietzsche]
that i have found is in a rather fascinating 'biographical' analysis-
if one can call it that- which one shouldn't as the author prefers
the term 'intellectual anthropology'- by Arpad Szakolczai _Max
Weber and Michel Foucalt_ published by Routledge in 1998.
best regards
bradley
"A table of values is set up over each people. Behold, it is the
table of its triumphs! Behold, it is the voice of its will to power"
Nietzsche "Thus Spake Zarathustra"