Madness and Civilization (Hardcover, 2nd edition)

Michel Foucault's history of madness during the classical age - the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries - is far too esoteric for the general reader. Foucault, cutting himself off entirely from the structure of modern psychiatry, recreates the theories, the treatment, and the vocabulary of folly, unreason, and insanity as they existed in Europe throughout the Middle Ages until the Age of Reason. He considers two events as milestones: the creation of the Hospital General in 1657, and the great confinement of the poor of 1794, the former indicative of a body of thought which considered man's dispute with madness a significant confrontation with secret powers, the latter presaging our modern attitudes involving isolation and refusal to communicate. Monsieur Foucault concludes: "The world that thought to measure and justify madness through psychology must justify itself by the excess of works like those of Nietzsche, of Van Gogh, of Artaud. And nothing in itself, especially no what it can know of madness, assures the world that such works of madness justify it." Madness & Civilization is to psychiatry what Mimesis is to literature. (Kirkus Reviews)

In this classic account of madness, Michel Foucault shows why he is one of the most distinguished European philosophers since the end of World War II. His influence dominates contemporary thinking. "Madness and Civilization" is Foucault's first book. His other books expand on themes established here: power and imprisonment are at the very heart of this study. "Madness and Civilization" could change the way in which you think about society. Evoking shock, pity and fascination, it might also make you question the way you think about yourself.

General

Imprint:	Routledge
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Series:	Routledge Classics
Release date:	May 2001
First published:	2001
Authors:	Michel Foucault
Dimensions:	198 x 129mm (L x W)
Format:	Hardcover
Pages:	304
Edition:	2nd edition
ISBN-13:	978-0-415-25539-4
Categories:	Books > Medicine > Other branches of medicine > Psychiatry Books > Humanities > Philosophy > Western philosophy > Modern Western philosophy, c 1600 to the present > Western philosophy, from c 1900 - > General Books > Philosophy > Western philosophy > Modern Western philosophy, c 1600 to the present > Western philosophy, from c 1900 - > General Promotions
LSN:	0-415-25539-2
Barcode:	9780415255394

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