Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Foucault's theory of knowledge-power reveals that hospitals serve as intersections where power is exercised and knowledge is produced. Through his early analysis of clinical medicine and his later introduction of the concept of "biopolitics," Foucault demonstrates how medicine, through practices such as regulating the body and institutionalizing health checks, links individual self-management with social norms. These practices become essential mechanisms for governing individual health and shaping social norms. With the widespread implementation of public health policies and the dissemination of medical knowledge, individuals have not only improved their capacity for self-management but have also taken on greater social responsibilities, thereby contributing to enhanced public health outcomes. This transformation highlights the complexity of power dynamics in modern society and offers fresh insights into the relationship between contemporary medicine and society.
Authors: Mingzhe Guo, Siyu Han
Institution: University of Shanghai for Science and Technology
Language: English
Topic: Foucault, Power, and Ethics
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4409981049