Introduction
In the philosophy arena, every philosopher is entitled to the presentation of their own theories and views. It is common to come across a number of conflicting logics on the same topic. In the same way, it is normal to find a couple of philosophers who concur on one thing or another. Good examples of the latter are Heidegger and Michel Foucault. This paper will look at the weighty influence of Heidegger on Michel Foucault’s concept of episteme and their consent based on people’s style, behavior, and talk. The similarity between what Heidegger calls the “age of style” and Michel Foucault’s episteme theory will also be discussed.
Influence of Heidegger on Foucault
Heidegger’s “Age of the World Picture” essay heaps substantial influence on Michel Foucault and his theories of the discourse, the discursive shifts, and most significantly, the episteme. The latter’s idea of episteme is made even more vivid by Heidegger’s account of the age of style. Whether or not the two talk about one and the same thing is not clear, but it is clear that Heidegger’s acknowledgment of a force that drives scientists and everybody to act in the way they do lends credence to Foucault’s episteme theory. This credibility is valuable in that it portrays Foucault’s concept as approved by more than one philosopher (Allen, 1978).
Similarity Between Heidegger’s and Foucault’s Concepts
One notable similarity between Heidegger’s and Foucault‘s theories is the fact that both talk of a factor that makes things seem right and wrong in the eyes of different people. While Heidegger talks of fashion trends and the modernization of science, Foucault holds that a special apparatus in the mental circumference of an individual is responsible for the different views. All in all, they both attribute the activities in the world to some special feature or mentality that is at work in each and every inhabitant of the earth.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Heidegger imposes a considerable amount of influence on Foucault and his theory. At the same time, the two agree that there is a power that is the cause of the human mind’s ability to conform to other things which are considered legitimate and abhor others which are regarded wrong or old-fashioned.
Reference List
Allen, J. (1978). Fundamental Paradigms for the Study of Intersubjectivity. Research in Phenomenology, 8 (1). 263.