In Care of the Self, Foucault ends his study of human sexuality by charting a history of the systems of self-knowledge. Foucault traces the history of what he calls inner technologies of the self or, those methods that have been used over the ages to gain access to our soul’s interiority. In short, he examines the pursuit of self-knowledge and ethics of self-care since the Oracle of Delphi.
Its with great care Foucault excavates the depths of soulmaking that followers of Stoicism and of Epicurus explored. While Foucault certainly seems to respect the tradition of know thyself and the paths to human freedom that can be opened by the sublimation of desire, he also interrogates what happens when institutions, like the church authority, step in to clamp down on desire by constraining human freedom and erasing individual will. So those inner technologies of self subjugation require critical interrogation.
lyrics
Before you expect it from anyone else
so treat yourself with care
a Stoic chin to danger,
skeptical, not making a fuss
following the ways of Seneca
If you whet your appetite with desire
be sure you know how to put out the fire
Know Yourself,
no one else gonna be your Oracle of Delphi
it’s never too early or late
for knowing your self and soul gazing
a purification of thoughts and such
indulge your appetite with Epicurus
If you discipline your desires
you’ll cleanse your senses with fire
Write Yourself a letter
inscribe your heart’s doubts for the better
keep a diary of your sin
take care of yourself, start philosophizing
avoid temptation and Philistines
take down some wisdom from St. Augustine
but take care, when confessing what you desire
be careful not to put out the fire
Chorus:
a cold docile body who enacts the schemes,
of subjects disciplined by knowledge/power regimes
so take care those technologies of inner subjugation
require critical interrogation
Cerebral palsy curbed his ability to play guitar the conventional way, so Nagoda learned double slide, this is his debut LP.
Bandcamp New & Notable May 8, 2014
